Lyrebird Euroka Clearing

The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson

Lyrebird   Euroka Clearing

 

the hapless lyrebird misnamed
for a taxidermist’s stuff-up
then drawn onto the postage stamp
as peacock parody by those who’d
never seen one live; tantalising
therefore on Tidbinbilla’s tracks
to hear its scurried flightless flight
and yearn to see firsthand; until
a patient decade later when
Euroka’s once volcanic site erupted
with such grace as let me glimpse
the privilege of being shown; and –
tantalising ‑ see how God is also
misconstrued by those who’ve
only seen the postage stamp

The 1932 Australian one shilling postage stamp depicted a Lyrebird, incorrectly drawn: its representation was corrected for the decimal currency 10c coin of 1966.

 

© The Revd James M McPherson