Check-Check. Poem by Konstantin Ananin

“Check-check”, said a tiny bird.
“What check? ” I asked it and heard
The bird repeat, “Check-check”.
“Do you want to pay by cheque? ”
Smiled I. But it kept on
“Check-check”. I said, “What’s wrong?
You needn’t pay: it’s free.”
“Check-check” came from the tree,
And suddenly I saw
Tom freezing on the floor!

This story is almost real. In my garden a family of white-throat warblers like training: the father and the mother control the two youngs that are very naïve and foolishly brave. So I often hear “Check-check”. This command turns into a very aggressive cry when one of many cats is somewhere near, and it is a picturesque show.