TWO CROWS

[Maureen K Clifford]

Weird as this is it is a totally true story and as I write they are outside playing again. The two have become regular visitors and their actions are most definitely deliberate. They sit in the tree and caw and caw most annoyingly until the dogs start to give chase, and then the dive bombing and flying from tree to tree commences. Everyone seems to be having fun and the two crows are getting stronger wings every day.

When the crows fell from the nest and I found them Elly was standing at eye to beak level and I am thinking God she is going to loose an eye - but the crow never made a move towards her and she had no intention of hurting it had just bailed it up, Mahalia being a border collie had rounded the other one up and bailed it on the fence until I could get to it. At no stage did either dog show any aggressive tendencies towards the crows. This made me very proud of them, but somewhat gob smacked as I really thought they would have tried to kill them. I have put off getting chooks because I thought the dogs would kill them - seems I was wrong.

I have avoided naming the crows - I still hope they will fly away and go live someplace else but Cecil and Cecilia is hovering in my subconscious. They are cawing again - best go make sure they are still above ground level.



TWO CROWS


I have to tell you straight up I am not a fan of crows
for I’ve seen too many sheep eye pecked as a result of those.
and 'the only crows a dead crow' was the motto in my book
for although in nature they've a place these black devils 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 on to the park.

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

These chicks were mighty friendly; they never once tried to peck
as I threw a towel over them –I certainly did expect
they would be biting, flapping, struggling in a frenzy of fear
but not at all they just sat placidly. They knew that help was near.

The girls had ruffled not a feather nor done the two crows harm,
they both seemed quite enraptured by the crows intrinsic charm,
though on crow release day after just a few days R and R
seemed not at all perturbed when the crows flew away far.

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

The crows sit on the clothesline – two dogs jumping below,
then the crows fly to the Jacaranda-two dogs chase and blow.
Then back to the Poinciana with two dogs in hot pursuit,
they display low level dive bombing, their barrel rolls are 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
and found one crow up 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
and don’t keep falling in the garden expecting 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 am listening to you
and taking on 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 mate arrived
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 has a sense of Joy de Vivre
and thinks Mahalia 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 a crow would quite deliberately come visiting to play
with two dogs who didn’t hurt him, just tried to help him on his way.

Maureen Clifford © 11/10

[Leonie]

Good yarn. I think you (and the girls) now have two pet crows whether you want them or not. It's funny how you can have no time at all for a particular predator breed of bird but still feel a grudging sort of admiration, even affection, for them. I feel the same way about currawongs.

[Heather]

What a lovely story Maureen. When I was a kid my two brothers "found" a baby crow and brought it home. We named "him" Corky. He was so clever and also funny. My dad would be working on his car and all the shiny tools would go missing! Corky eventually grew up and flew off. We always wondered when we heard a crow if it was Corky come to visit. I still have a fondness for crows.

Heather

[william williams]

He thought that he could CROW about
This RAVIN in this dress you'd shout
She wore a black but shinny costume
Her legs were long one would presume
Why her voice it should be beautiful
But all she’d say was AAARRK


bill the old battler

[David J Delaney]

This is great Maureen, love it, I'm half way through writing a story (just under 2000 words atm) about 2 bush kids who adopt a baby crow after it's nest came crashing to the ground near a creek bank where they would play & one of the boys mum was a country vet, that's all I'm saying until I'm finished it.

Any way your poem reminded me of my story.

[Neville Briggs]

Stone the crows !!

[Maureen K Clifford]

Dave you will reall have something to crow about when you are finished

I did wonder Marty and Bill actually if they were ravens - will have to google to see what the subtle differences are. They llke like crows, they sound like crows, but seem to be a bit nicer personality wise so perhaps???

Neville I couldn't stone the crows which is why I had to rescue them in the first place

Cheers

Maureen