Monday, May 04, 2009

Crow 4

It is a little known fact that crows perform funerary rites.

Rituals differ from group to group. The crows in my area croak lower tones, walk short distances instead of taking flight. And at night,

when they should be soft,
blending,

they sing.
And rot in the air.

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Great comments from everybody on the poems so far, I appreciate them, thanks!

4 comments:

andie said...

"And rot in the air."

Rather a gothic ending I thought. I liked it, natch.

This is likely true. Crows are very social and loyal birdies.

They hang out as extended families. The grown adults come back if they don't mate, and will help raise the next sibling(s). They will defend injured adults (I have a story) and mourn their dead.

They can identify humans and have long memories. The crows in my neighbourhood hate my ex-husband, for example.

My kids are bird-geeks too. For example one of my young daughters told her step-mother on a visit - "Wanna hear something cool? I just looked out my window today and saw a murder!" and couldn't manage to explain that this was what a group of crows is called.

I had an alibi, fortunately.

Because I did get a concerned phone call.

(p.s. I'm not a bad mother. I say this 10 times before I go to bed every night.)

kerryan said...

Spectacular closing line!

Joanne Epp said...

Interesting twist at the end! I thought the rhythm and pacing worked very well in this poem.

sms said...

this is fantastic. your final line excellent.