During the winter months when it's bitter and cold,
After other wildlife and birds disappear;
Solitude is disrupted by a cawing jeer.
The call of the much maligned crow is strong and bold.
I see a murder of crows, numbering seven,
Flying stoically above the bare naked trees.
They've starkly replaced more colorful absentees;
Bold, black in contrast to the light grey heaven.
Some fear the dark bird as a harbringer of death.
When no other living thing's moving, all is dead
It is another thought that forms within my head.
It is winter not hell, and I take a deep breath.
Author notes
I hope your zoo has an aviary.
Option 3: I look at the crow as a totem of hope.
Image Source: http://www.arcticgaspipeline.com/images/Flags%20&%20Symbols/HaidaTOTEM.jpg
I wanna be your .... I dunno, I thought Old Crow would be appropriate. I don't really understand the AP family think and entered the contest because the zoo thing was different. Maybe I should be a third cousin, twice removed?.
Let me know what you think.
A contest entry
- Wanna be in My ZOO? Check it out! (Contest) by Paloszoo.
525 points, ended October 10, 2008, 12 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 25 of 25
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You are now my old crow. Welcome to my family
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Thanks. I will perch in a nearby tree on the coldest of days when no one else is there.
Mike
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Excellent
A very good write, indeed. Imagery,rhythm and rhyme are just fine. Thanks for sharing this one with us, my friend.
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Thand alot for reading and commenting. It is alway much appreciated.
Mike
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Nicely written. Winter...ick. Let's go to FL! I do have to give winter credit for my snowmen and chickadees though
I am not a crow fan due to my experience in college ... one year there were hundreds of them hanging out in the tree tops aligning the (one-way) road I had to walk on to work - I had to carry an umbrella it was so bad. I am happily away from the rain/crow mixed smell
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Yeah. I hear you. The mountain tops were white with snow today. I enjoyed it. I know you would not .... you cant wear flip flops. But, I have a dirt floor in the basement. And if I put a tub of water down there it is just like the beach. Sort of....
Mike
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Very nice... I see a lot of their cousins, ie ravens, up here by me. Twice in winter I've seen crows and ravens perched on a deer carcass with a bald eagle in their midst. It's a strange combo, but they seem to tolerate one another. In Riverside, CA we used to have a humongous flock of crows fly over our apartment complex. The formation would probably average 100 feet or better in width, but it would take ten minutes or better from first bird to last straggler at hundreds of birds per minute. Something about Mt. Roubidoux, I guess.
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Thank you for reading and commenting. It is much a appreciated. They used to fight with coyotes on my father's meadow over some tasty morsel. It was quite a scene to watch.
Mike
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I love the crow they are so smart
Its amazing how crows think and they can figure out most anything to get at food
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Thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate you reading my poems. I agree with you. Crows are very intelligent animals.
Mike
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I also forgot to add that I'm honored you've chosen to enter my contest. It means a lot to me. Thank you!
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Thank you for this comment, but the honor is actually mine.
Mike
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Great imagery. I love this poem. Unfortunately where I live, West Nile disease has all but wiped out our crows and black birds :-( I have a lot of birds. Please tell me you want to be a person in my family and not a bird. LOL
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We have West Nile virus here as well, but it has not done as much damage. Crows are still plentiful. Ravens I usually come across only during my sojourns to the mountian tops. Along with owls, they are my favorites. Chickadees are nice in the winter. They are tame and hang around in the cold weather.
Thanks for reading and commenting. I had not given much of a thought about the AP family thing because I don't really understand it.
Mike
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I really like the stark imagery you have painted of a cold winter landscape, and the sounds and sights of the crows at first menacing yet then, life in a lifeless sky should be a positive thing..we are a superstitious bunch aren't we? Great write and good luck. peace
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It is the reason that some animals are maligned. I guess it depends on what you associate with them. They used to follow my Dad around the field when he spread manure in the winter. Even in the worst of weather. For many years there was always 7 of them.
Mike -
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That seems comforting, a ritual of sorts. I think if we were a little more spiritual about the world and its inhabitants we'd all be a little richer of heart..peace
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I love crows too! I love the atmospheric sound of their cawing and used it to good effect in a stage production once. I especially liked the lines;
'I see a murder of crows, numbering seven,
Flying stoically above the bare naked trees'
The vivid imagery here sends a tingle down the spine. Wonderful! I hope she has some gnarled old oak trees for you to roost in, you are too wonderful to be caged in an avairy. I agree, winter is magic!
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Thank you for reading and commenting. I am glad you enjoyed the poem. Crows, ravens, and owls have always been amongst my favorites.
Mike
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very nice!
I love your rhyme scheme, so few that I've seen so far do the a,b,b,a rhyme! -
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Thank you for reading and commenting. This is my first attempt at this style of rhyme. I saw it in a poem on AP the other day and was quite impressed. I thought it would give it a try.
I am glad you liked it.
Mike
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Great write!!!!! It was so easy to follow! Keep up the good work!!
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Thank you. I am glad you liked it. I appreciate you reading and commenting.
Mike
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i hate winter....... but i love it too... when all is still its soo beautiful... but can seem so dead like too..... great write... love it... hugs... good luck in contes..
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I like the winter. I know. It puts me in a minority. Crows and chickadees are about the only thing that moves around here in the winter.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Mike
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