A Suspicion of Crows
Their harsh chatter brought me to the surface
of reluctant waking this morning.
I thought they were part of the dream
that lingered like a mysterious odor,
but when I raised up on my elbow
and opened the blinds, there they were,
strutting the city roof like princes,
their inky swadde, royal robes of the realm.
They regarded me as a pardoned felon.
Nearly naked, what else could I do but stare back?
I thought after my shower
they would have moved on,
but they had settled in like squatters.
What omen descended?
All day I walked gently, afraid
of breaking a leg or running into an open door.
Made sure my money was safe in the bank.
No one had stolen my car.
I checked their pedigree online,
a random clutter of legend and drama.
One site claimed the dead travel the world as crows,
not as gloomy harbingers but as reminders of those lost.
Just in case, I walked out onto the balcony,
faced their dark confusion, and waved.
18 thoughts on "A Suspicion of Crows"
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I loved this: the detailed scene and world-building, the interiority of thought, and the end twists to a fresh perspective. Great work!
great detail and so vivid: loved the lines, strutting the city roof like princes,
their inky swaddle, royal robes of the realm
thanks for sharing!
I love the description of the crows: their inky swaddle, a random clutter of legend and drama. And the title is scrumptious.
“The dead travel the world as crows,
Not as gloomy harbingers but as a reminder of those lost.”
Love this.
This is fantastic. Crows seem to be on our minds today – your’s humorously ominous, mine taking hold of the garden hoe, both forces to be reckoned with.
enjoyed it very much, good way to end, too
Great poem, always pay attention to the signs
Loved this, but then I love anything to do with crows, Great title and that “inky swaddle” image so perfect.
Great poem!
I love this poem! The wonderful imagery of the crows, making you feel like a “pardoned felon”! Masterful build-up of superstition and omens towards the perfect surprise of the last couplet! So good!!
Very insightful, a better than “twa Corbies” I grant you. I had a hen vulture land on the railing within six feet of me, protected by glass in double doors. I sill ponder that recent happening, but I have not yet decoded how to write a poem…
I like the way this is broken into couplets. For me, it helped me digest all the wonderful images throughout!
Title caught my eye and drew me in to wonderful lines.
Favorite lines:
strutting the city roof like princes,
their inky swadde, royal robes of the realm.
They regarded me as a pardoned felon.
Nearly naked, what else could I do but stare back?
Love the omen discussion and what a surprise at the end:
Just in case, I walked out onto the balcony,
faced their dark confusion, and waved.
Thank you all so much for your kind words!
Such surprises — inky swaddle is perfect, and the omens — the list of what the speaker avoids and does is yes, down to earth. “dark confusion,” and the wave at the end — wonderful turn.
What a treat. That last verse brought it home!
You may have added “suspicion” or “confusion” to “murder” and “conspiracy.” Delightful poem.
I absolutely love crows—they are very smart birds and mourn their dead—not a bad omen to me—I think either crows or ravens my spirit animal. I like how you used sensory imagery in this poem and that you devoted a poem to crows!