Shelly Beach is magnificently placed at the mouth of the Moruya River, with a backdrop of mountains. The breakwater winds around to a peaceful lake-like expanse of river. It’s hard to believe there’s an airport just over on the other side of the river, until you see how very small the airport actually is.
I walked along the beach early in the morning with an old friend. We passed a sculpture-pile of stones, a dishevelment of breakwater rocks, an irresistible patch of tumble weed, and a warble of magpies. My friend entered into a musical conversation with them, and later captured the song-dialogue in a lovely occasional poem.
Maggie’s Chorus
Two friends went down to the beach one day
And met at the breakwater wall
A magpie, and it’s mate nearby
Who started a chortley call
They paused their elegant confabulation
Seemed to wait for some sort of reply
So I joined the chortling conversation
Tho’ much less elegant was I
When next I paused, they again did start
And after another minute
There was a space for me again to take part
By now I was beginning to wing it
And so it continued this ping ponging song
The magpies then me in tandem
Tho’ my vocals un crafted sufficed just so long
They gave their response with abandon
This call and response ‘tween me and the ‘pies
A sweetly special engagement
Spontaneous and playful it did not rely
On high training, or planning or talent
(written by Sandy Wilder, November 2014, and used here with her permission.)
singing magpie
magpie flying
Sandy and the breakwater
rock sculpture
still waters
tumbleweed
still waters
looking north
looking south