text: Big Bird
  Whilst on a walking holiday in remote regions
  I chance upon a secluded valley
  Away from the popular walking routes
  Some distance along the valley
  I come across a scene so breathtakingly beautiful
  That I drop to my knees in wonder
  There is something about the serried ranks
  Of deciduous and coniferous trees
  Standing tall on the opposite bank
  Of the river that sets my heart ablaze
  The colours of the foliage are poetic
  Whilst the arrangement of species seems divinely inspired
  Clouds swoop and whirl above the topmost branches
  And the river sparkles through an uncertain reflection below
  Suddenly, the sky darkens, and along the river advances a flotilla of huge birds with menacing eyes
  The size of the birds staggers me; one is as tall as a bus, and the others not much smaller
  Their plumage is a shimmering blue
  But their eyes are full of hate and looming disaster
  With a horrible sinking feeling
  I realise that the birds have noticed me
  One of them clambers up the nearside bank
  And waddles towards me
  I take to my heels, and scramble along the path
  Gaining speed, I run at full tilt
  Then I see people in front of me, running towards me
  First one passes, then another, then another
  They are wide-eyed with terror, and keep taking quick
  Fearful looks behind them
  There must, I realise, be something unutterably horrible in front of me, but my fear of the big birds compels me to carry on
  More people run past me, all with the same frightened expression. They are running towards the birds, away from something unknown
  I am running from the birds, towards something unknown. Not for the first time in my life, I curse my bad luck