The Clapper Rail

As dawn breaks, I stir from my nest,
Hidden in the marsh, a quiet rest.
I, the Clapper Rail, start my day,
In the wetlands, where I stay.

The morning tide brings a feast to me,
Crabs and mollusks from the sea.
With a quick dart of my beak, so swift,
In the soft mud, I sift.

As the sun climbs, I take to the reeds,
Hidden from sight, performing good deeds.
Feeding my chicks, so small and frail,
In the safe haven of the marsh, we hail.

The afternoon sun shines bright and high,
Under the shade of the reeds, I lie.
A moment of rest in the busy day,
In the heart of the wetlands, I stay.

As evening falls, I make my rounds,
The marsh echoing with night sounds.
My rhythmic clapping, a signature song,
In the twilight hours, I belong.

Under the starlit sky, I retire,
In my hidden nest, I aspire.
To live another day, strong and hale,
In the life of the Clapper Rail.