I was sent this beautiful poem to welcome the return of the swifts, which have been steadily increasing in numbers since the start of the month 🙂

The Swifts are back

Warmth embraced the early morning

Southern breeze brought brightness.

As an answer to our despair of

The dismal dry grey April 

Attacking all ideas of early spring.

Treading out today

Willingly pulled to plant out

And tend the slow growing seedlings

Squeals and screeches from the skies

The swifts are back!

Like our own adolescents

Controlled by lockdown limits 

The early returners shout their delight

Diving and drifting high above

Broadcasting their return.

Whilst we have struggled

Swooping swifts announce normality

With their excelling excitement

Can we learn from these lovely birds

How to go on.