Trouble In The Trees

THE birds had a meeting,-- The owl was judge; But a jay came along And said ’twas all fudge.

With a quill in his ear The shore-lark was clerk; The wren was a witness, And how she did perk!

The king-bird was sheriff And brought in the shrike, When a goldfinch could scarcely Conceal her dislike.

What talking and squawking, What whetting of bills! What ruffling of feathers, What bristling of quills!

Till a fox heard the chatter And pounced on the jay, When swallows and sparrows And all flew away!