chanced upon the vegetable bed
a frightened wren off flew
in swiftest glide, straight back and head,
his hind brown tail askew

from there, not far, he lit upon
a branch of kiwi tree
upon which he sung the sweetest trill
whilst eyeing me coyly

'i'm innocent', he seemed to say,
"though smallest British bird,
i went to glean some grass and hay
before your wrath incurred".

and while he sang and probity pled
robin materialised
there on border of raised veg bed,
and slugs 'n flies surprised

'wasn't me either your radishes pecked'
his presence seemed to say,
'it's the bigger birds that ought get checked'
and off he flew away