Four and Twenty Blackbirds

[Maria2394]

I have been engrossed in crow/blackbird poems since the drop you in your tracks thread. I remember Tath saying that crows speak to him. They speak to me as well

Feel free to post your crow poems, any style, and if you have one you are particularly fond of, just be sure to post the author's name, okay? give credit where due and crow away



KAw, KAw

 

[WickedEve]

To Quiet Crows
october 2005 (not yet finished with edits--needs more work on line breaks)


A papaw bends low
and toward westward clouds,
its branches feeble
upon withered ground.
Over rotted fruit,

another crow in hand,
I move to burden limbs
with dark feathers
strung close on twine--
found a ball of it in the cellar.

And now rain increases. It clamors,
but is not the silence
coming from these hung beaks
heard? Others caw

beyond split rails,
not heeding signs
nor portents in the leaves.


I actually have quite a few blackbird/crow poems. I don't think I have any online. Most are hidden somewhere on my computer.

 

[Rybka]

* Snow Showers *



Showers of snow
* fall off the tree *
* and onto me *
* from the crow *
* as he leaves *
* with a rasping laugh *
****
***
**​

~ Rybka - 2002​

 

[PatCarrington]

Straw Man


I do not remember balance,
the standing.
I am scarecrow-still
as black birds torture my eyes,
sit on my head in defiance
of all sanity and rule
with my arms and their bending,
salvation from wicked wings,
stuffed and straight.

I never flew, did not ever want
to fly, never hoped to ever fly,
never even wanted to hope
to fly, but

I want to bend my arms again,
want to reach my fingers out
and feel them twitch and tremble
as they touch the skies
of your face.

I want to come to you oiled
when you call, inviting me
to share the motions and flight
of your bed and dreams,
and script secrets
that run and jump
and soar into the night.

I want no spokes, no stiff metal,
no corridors on wheels.

I want to protect more than corn.

 

[Du Lac]

Mystical Crows...

I find it so interesting how crows weave their magic into so many of our lives, nevermind that they are constant reminders of life and death within our sight. They speak to many of us. I found out last year that my father (whom I have not seen in over 33 years) had a strong connection with crows, as well as my sister who has them through out her house. At the same time I was hearing them speak to me... and I wrote my Crows poem. (I also found out then it is my birth totem.) I am providing some interesting links regarding crows.. hope you enjoy them..
Du Lac

FYI: on mystic properties of crows:

Birth Totem : Crow information

Other Spiritual realms of Crow

Crows
by Du Lac ©

White river dreams
Youths lost dilemmas.

Dropped off glacial cliffs
melted ancient water
streaming minds.

Crows sitting, waiting for the warming
Black dots thrust against a fading indigo sky.

Evergreens scream in their green,
forever young,
barren branches whip in jealousy.

Whispered secrets of the Creator.

Swirling paisley dreams,
laced with muted colors of our existence.

Fractals of frozen tears,
pooling on tar covered terra.

Grieving mother,
separated from her young.

Ignorant humans.
Lost in the paisley of crow fed desires.

dlt © Feb. 19 2005

 

[Tathagata]

Crow Moon



Brother crow left me feathers,
In childhood forests,
And perched high above in bare November trees
Told me of old things, in his chant hoarsened voice.
Bringer of wisdom, bringer of death
Divine messenger, cosmic trickster
He put me on the path, lit by the March moon
My eyes see it twist and turn
But it is straight as the crow flies
In reality

 

[annaswirls]

you know I thought this was good when I wrote it. Damn, I am editing all of the errors out and they are still there, sheesh.

Open

The staggered row of black birds
cascades from the retaining wall

This fluttering waterfall of
feathers and caw
lands in a dark pool
of liquid motion

I see myself
sinking in sand
down through the funnel
buried alive by time

and I don't seem to mind
at all.


~

we threw popcorn onto the front yard today and they came and they came, larger than cats they came with thick beaks ten, twenty spotless dinosaurs, if blackness had a motion it would be the walk of the crow

 

[Tathagata]

Messenger

"In the midst of this world
we stroll along the roof of hell
gawking at flowers " - Issa



a crow,
it's braying hoarse cry ,
a black tentacle
reaching
through early December fog.

A fog the color of loneliness.

ears confirm
what the eyes can't see,
like my heart confirms
a thought from you.

Most would think it odd
the leftover wishes
of a man who won't grow up
to have an " animal friend",
a messenger of dreams
and warnings
and love.

But I,
open to anything
that will color the two tone world they've created,
embrace the idea.

For what is heaven and hell
compared to a black bird,
who sing love sonnets
from across the country,
for you, and you alone?

 

[annaswirls]

I remember this one

:sigh:

why dont they have a smiley with fluttering eyelids and a dreamy smile?

Straw Man


I do not remember balance,
the standing.
I am scarecrow-still
as black birds torture my eyes,
sit on my head in defiance
of all sanity and rule
with my arms and their bending,
salvation from wicked wings,
stuffed and straight.

I never flew, did not ever want
to fly, never hoped to ever fly,
never even wanted to hope
to fly, but

I want to bend my arms again,
want to reach my fingers out
and feel them twitch and tremble
as they touch the skies
of your face.

I want to come to you oiled
when you call, inviting me
to share the motions and flight
of your bed and dreams,
and script secrets
that run and jump
and soar into the night.

I want no spokes, no stiff metal,
no corridors on wheels.

I want to protect more than corn.

 

[Tathagata]

Ravenwitch

Crows no longer gather,
bearing your promise and thoughts,
across desolate winter stripped earth,
over sun warmed pregnant mountains,
huddled like music on telephone wires
each note a memory,
each memory a lifetime.

Our spirit bond,
medicine hands clasped,
totem kisses.
The four directions we command
and obey.

but who writes love sonnets on the wind?
or sends passion in a storm?
all these things once so personal
now just banal happenstance,
just nature,
no mind.

What became of my
undertaker specters?
grim gallows gait,
and gravel voiced,
bent and yellow eyed,
fog horns for my wandering mind.

Silent watchers now,
perhaps mute with restraint.
When intentions falter
and prayers stutter, stagger,
the wind refuses to placate,
I search for the magic
and find it failing.

Can your happiness or boredom feel the same??

My messengers are hiding in dying trees,
cold pale claws grasping at straws,
like me,
watching time pass,
watching the world die,
afraid of breaking silence,
afraid to voice
your regret.

 

[annaswirls]

ah I remember this one too

Cosmic Trickster!!!
I think that would be a great name for you T.
You are the crow.

Crow Moon



Brother crow left me feathers,
In childhood forests,
And perched high above in bare November trees
Told me of old things, in his chant hoarsened voice.
Bringer of wisdom, bringer of death
Divine messenger, cosmic trickster
He put me on the path, lit by the March moon
My eyes see it twist and turn
But it is straight as the crow flies
In reality

 

[annaswirls]

damn! what a finish

Ignorant humans.
Lost in the paisley of crow fed desires.

dlt © Feb. 19 2005

 

[annaswirls]

um I love the image of snow whacking you on the head, but why is your poem shaped like a ladies one piece bathing suit?

* Snow Showers *



Showers of snow
* fall off the tree *
* and onto me *
* from the crow *
* as he leaves *
* with a rasping laugh *
****
***
**​

~ Rybka - 2002​

 

[annaswirls]

omg this is a spooky poem. blair witch was standing behind you, I think, when you wrote it

To Quiet Crows
october 2005 (not yet finished with edits--needs more work on line breaks)


A papaw bends low
and toward westward clouds,
its branches feeble
upon withered ground.
Over rotted fruit,

another crow in hand,
I move to burden limbs
with dark feathers
strung close on twine--
found a ball of it in the cellar.

And now rain increases. It clamors,
but is not the silence
coming from these hung beaks
heard? Others caw

beyond split rails,
not heeding signs
nor portents in the leaves.


I actually have quite a few blackbird/crow poems. I don't think I have any online. Most are hidden somewhere on my computer.

 

[annaswirls]

Great idea!

come on girl, where are yours?

I am starting an amphibian thread next

ribbit

I have been engrossed in crow/blackbird poems since the drop you in your tracks thread. I remember Tath saying that crows speak to him. They speak to me as well.

aneeee wayyyyy.

KAw, KAw

 

[eagleyez]

four fat crows
circle dance
in raincoats
shiny black

push the sparrows
from the apple
nudge the night
laugh at the dark

neither riverside
nor silty edge
catch them offguard
nightshift suits them fine
they found it hard
twas hard to find.

black with a hint of blue
the glint of moon wearing
the hoppity shoe
four fat crows
just beyond the fire's light
if you see them
they see you.

 

[Rybka]

um I love the image of snow whacking you on the head, but why is your poem shaped like a ladies one piece bathing suit?

Because life requires fertility?​

 

[jthserra]

Calling Crows

......... "Crow
.........Grinned
.........Crying: 'This is my creation.'
.........Flying the black flag of himself."
................from Crow Blacker than Ever
................by Ted Hughes

The distant wings
The black coming of crows
A midnight of days
A dying sun
And suddenly, the birds line on power lines
Each silhouette pausing against the light
In wait, waiting
Patiently waiting…

Each year the headstone defaced
His name struck from the stone
His shame remembered
Now cast in bronze
To weather the blows
And she, still silent
So painfully silent.

The shadowed wings
Flap at the sound
His spilled voice
A bleeding song
As the crows, line on power lines
Each word a silhouette
In wait, waiting
Patiently waiting…

When the face in the mirror
Was no longer hers
Assisa too heard the hiss
Of Sylvia's blissful shrine
A breath in the kitchen
And she, still silent
So painfully silent.

The dying wings
A black growing inside
The falling feathers
A poet's ground
The crows calling, calling him
His name in silhouette
Is waiting, waiting
Patiently waiting...
......
......
......

 

[My Erotic Tale]

The Thief
by My Erotic Tail ©

Who is this thief that steals from my line,
again and again, time after time.

Leaving dirty laundry scattered around,
finding them laying on the ground.

What a mess they have made of things,
the emotions they stir and sorrow they bring.

I wait and watch my laid out line,
I have patience and plenty of time.

Searching for answers to the crime,
who is littering these things of mine?

Then I saw them land on my line,
taking my clothes pins one at a time.

The black Crow that has caused such a mess,
likes the shinny spring of the clothes pins I guess.

 

[My Erotic Tale]

13 crows
by My Erotic Tale ©

13 Crows~

In the dead of night
I heard their flight
just above my head

13 Crows
landed in a row
gathering around the dead

Stainless drips
trick of the night
the color of blood red

13 crows
this night exposed
what they wanted fed

A shrilling call
beaks and eye balls
as 13 crows fled

A hallow eve
instructing my deed
what 13 crows had said

Calling this night
the black birds flight
13 crows in my head

 

[BooMerengue]

While I don't know from crows I do know a bit about Nursery Rhymes, so thought I'd share this.

Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie

Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,
Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?
The king was in his counting house counting out his money,
The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey
The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!​

Action Nursery Rhyme

Lovely lyric to this children's action nursery rhyme. The rye was purchased for sixpence to attract birds. Blackbirds, and other song birds, were actually eaten as a delicacy! However a court jester may well have suggested to the court cook to bake a pie crust and place this over some blackbirds to surprise and amuse the King! It would not be unreasonable for the blackbirds to look for revenge hence "When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!" Children love the action in this nursery rhyme of tweaking their nose!

 

[Guest]

While I don't know from crows I do know a bit about Nursery Rhymes, so thought I'd share this.

Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie

Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,
Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?
The king was in his counting house counting out his money,
The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey
The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!​

Action Nursery Rhyme

Lovely lyric to this children's action nursery rhyme. The rye was purchased for sixpence to attract birds. Blackbirds, and other song birds, were actually eaten as a delicacy! However a court jester may well have suggested to the court cook to bake a pie crust and place this over some blackbirds to surprise and amuse the King! It would not be unreasonable for the blackbirds to look for revenge hence "When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!" Children love the action in this nursery rhyme of tweaking their nose!

When we were little, Boo, our Gran had a pie flute (designed to release the steam from pies) in the shape of a blackbird poking it's head out of the pastry top. It was always a game to see if it really was four and twenty blackbirds in there. Needless to say, it never was and we kids were always reliveed.

Thanks for jogging that memory.

 

[Guest]

http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/6/3/10634/10634-h/042.png

 

[Maria2394]

come on girl, where are yours?

I am starting an amphibian thread next

ribbit

umm< I'll hop right onto that one

Thanks to all of you for contributing, so far, to this thread. I have been in crow heaven. Reading back on some of these brought back memories of the first time I read them, some are new to me.

I said earlier that most of my work is locked up ion my old computer and i remember the trouble that Rybka had a while back with his and I am sort of hesitant to confront losing them all right now, so I keep putting the retrieval off.
I did however, go digging through normal jean's pile of stuff and found one I, ( she, I mean) posted a while back. It needs work, its not abandoned, just been stewing, but this is the unedit.suggestions are still welcome

so here goes;;

Straw Man Down,
by normal jean
un-stuff the hay, fledgling crow
scare away the glean and pinch
of pulling push towards sorrow

empty man fills up on beauty
tryin’ to take it to his grave

hollow man fills up on dread
his heart already in his grave

patience wins the war of age

listen young crow, you gotta keep on
preenin' and pluckin’ and pulling straw,
don’t be takin’ no lessons from ravens
on how to pester with squawk and caw

lonely man fills up on meat
angry man fills up on hate
humble man fills up on faith

you can’t fight the flood with fire
anyhow

answer me, old crow with your booty
of empty pants, ragged shirt and farmer’s hat-
whose biddin’ will you do
when there’s no straw man alurkin’
causin’ problems for you, for you?

whose biddin',whose biddin’
will you do?


***

Im devoting my day tomorrow to a cat with two tubes in his butt that drains icky stuff, while feeding him amoxil ever few hours . he has a cone head and he's drugged, has a shaved ass and our other cat is freaked out by the whole thing. ( he had an abcess...

umm, forgot where I was going with that...sorry

 

[Angeline]

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arrive
You were only waiting for this moment to arrive
You were only waiting for this moment to arrive