From the time of Chaucer's 'Parliament of Fowls' (c. 1380) to the present day, English poets have been inspired to write about birds. We will read aloud and discuss a selection of such poems. What is it about birds that has inspired poets? Their freedom of flight, the quality of their song, the colour of their plumage, the instinctiveness of their performance, their behaviour patterns, their associations with legend, mythology, mystery, symbolism, the spirit and soul, etc.? This will be a participatory seminar to which each member will be expected to contribute. Members will take it in turns to present poems each week, having made copies available the week before. The leader will help with the availability of texts.