A Nest Full of Stars

    my hen， stepping from her hidden

    nest， in our kitchen garden.

    In her clever secret place， her tenth

    egg， still warm， had just been dropped.

    Not sure of what to do， I picked up

    every egg， counting them， then put them

    down again. All were mine.

    All swept me away and back.

    I blinked¹， I saw： a whole hand

    of ripe bananas， nesting.

    I blinked， I saw： a basketful

    of ripe oranges， nesting.

    I blinked， I saw： a trayful²

    of ripe naseberries， nesting.

    I blinked， I saw： an open bagful

    of ripe mangoes， nesting.

    I blinked， I saw：

    a mighty³ nest full of stars.