TWO CROWS

[Maureen K Clifford]

TWO CROWS ... Maureen Clifford © The #Scribblybarkpoet


I have to tell you straight up I am not a fan of crows
for I’ve seen too many eye pecked sheep as a result of those.
‘The only crows a dead crow’ was the motto in my book
for although they have their place the black Satan’s make me crook.

In my garden crows were nesting how I cursed them, how I swore
every morning woken early by their loud and raucous caw
and my girls shared their Mums feelings and they’d tear around and bark.
Did the crows care? Not one bit – they just flew over to the park.

Now these crows are fat and healthy –other birds young chicks they’ve ate.
My Superb wrens have hatched three chicks, so these crows are not my mates,
but it seems the stately palm tree where they nest gave them the flick,
and two dogs kicked up a ruckus , rounding up two black crow chicks.

These Crow chicks were quite friendly; they never tried to peck
as I threw a towel over them –I certainly did expect
there’d be biting, flapping, struggling in a frenzy of fear,
but no,l they just sat placidly. They knew that help was near.

The girls hadn’t harmed a feather nor done the two crows harm,
they both seemed quite enraptured by the crows intrinsic charm,
though on the crow release day after some days R and R
seemed to be not one bit perturbed as two crows fluttered far.

‘Oh good they’re gone thank God for that’ I thought. Oh silly me
for this morning they are back in my Poinciana tree.
Cawing and calling as they do till the dogs they espy
I swear to God they called them out to play, chasey and fly.

The crows sit on the clothesline – two dogs jumping round below,
then the crows fly to the Jacaranda, two dogs chase and blow.
Then back to the Poinciana with two dogs in hot pursuit,
crows display low level dive bombing, and barrel rolls. How cute.

One misjudged his acrobatics and came tumbling to the ground
unbeknownst to me , but Mother crow kicked up an awful sound.
Two dogs were going frantic till I came to take a look
finding one crow near the water tank , a black bedraggled chook.

Once again I picked him up and placed him back into the tree
all the while with admonitions –‘ you will be the death of me
if you keep up this performance, now just stop mucking about.
Don’t keep falling in the garden wanting me to help you out.’

He looked at me with bright blue eyes – yes blue – I tell you true.
Cocked his head as if to say ’ OK I ‘m listening to you,
and hearing your suggestion – which has a degree of sense
next time I’ll try much harder and try landing on your fence.’

And this morning once again I let the two dogs go outside
and within just a few seconds their feathered mates arrived.
One jumping in agitation from tree limb to tree limb.
For the dog’s intent on peeing, were not intent on him.

Now I’ve sat and watched for half an hour – and this crow has a plan
and I never thought I’d say it – I’ve a fondness for the man
cloaked in black, sleek, glossy feathers – he’s a sense of Joy de Vivre,
seems to think Molly and Elly are now his family.

I always knew that crows were smart – that was never in doubt.
But I never thought I’d ever see the day would come about
when two crows would deliberately come over to play
with two dogs who didn’t hurt them, but just helped them on their way.

[Shelley Hansen]

Great tale, Maureen! We have two resident crows, and the more I get to know them, the more I appreciate their flair for comedy.

Have you ever seen them trying to raise an interloper channel billed cuckoo chick? Or expertly flipping over a toad to kill it without being affected by the poison?

[r.magnay]

I like crows, they are the garbage collectors of the bush...glad you made piece with them Maurine..

[Catherine Lee]

Great story, Maureen, and certainly has me looking at these birds a bit differently!

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thanks everyone - glad you all found something in this to like ...they are indeed smart and we underestimate them that's for sure. I could never work out how at lambing time if I came out with a rifle and aimed it in their direction, two paddocks away, they would all take off quick smart, but if I did the same thing with a broom handle they just sat there and cawed at me. I never shot them just above their heads to scare them away from our ewes and lambs. They were buggers for taking out the eyes of the ewes and the lambs while they were down.