A little town in New South Wales Welcome to Boree Creek.
The sign over the pub door (a little down the road) reads 'Magpie Territory'. I was attacked by a magpie on the way back to school one day. I had to surrender my lunch. Damned vicious birds, but who doesn't love the quardle-ardle-oodle-ay call of the creature?
'Then the fiery Scorpion vanished, the magpie's note was heard...' (from 'The Australian Sunrise' by James Lister Cuthbertson). I could quote Frank S Williamson but I won't. |
There is an old rhyme about magpies that I particularly like. I don't know its origins but it goes like this:
One for sorrow Two for joy Three for a girl Four for a boy Five for silver Six for gold And seven for a secret never to be told. The picture below, of a Monet painting called 'La Pie', always intrigues me. I'm sure the bird's shadow is back-to-front. A little mystery. I have a print of 'La Pie' which my sister bought in Paris for me so I've studied it carefully. (It has been suggested to me that Monet was possibly drunk when he painted the magpie's shadow. I don't think that will wash.) |
La Pie, by Claude Monet.
