What the Crows Know

Photo by Qurratul Ayin Sadia on Unsplash

Crows sing their Winter songs,
No harsher than the wind today,
Cluster in the empty tree where in Spring
Flashes of gold and grey will nest.

For now our house is covered
In the inky blessings of the crows-
Enough for today their raucous cries,
Their eyes full of deep animal wisdom.

Here’s their lesson, freely given:
A crippled crow made his home one year
In the Norfolk pine across the street
With two companions to care for him.

Two crows flew with dark grace,
Never left behind their crippled friend,
Took him to the food or it to him,
Sacrificed the freedom of the sky.