Winter Visitors

It starts gradually, so
you hardly notice at first.

Shorter days, cooler nights,
a few more Galahs
on electric wires.
Ravens in the park,
Flame Robins on the fences.

The birds are coming into town!
Bush birds like flowers
with wings.

Before the first frost
they are installed
in our gardens
and tree-lined streets -
their winter homes.

What did they do
before there were towns?