Crow, you are so smart
With your large cawing voice,
Unique and patient in flight.
Your compact body with
long-legs and thick neck
a heavy, straight bill.

with broad, rounded wings
and wing-tip feathers that spread like fingers
I am amazed at your fine body
you have not a speck of any other color -
all black, even your legs and bill.
you could teach us a lot about being with others
living in large flocks, sometimes of millions

how do you do that
when I have trouble with only a few?
you are inquisitive
and very mischievous, my friend
and so good at solving problems
I just don’t know how you do it
eating almost anything
… even robbing chicks from nests

Oh, bold Crow,
you are so aggressive
you often chase away hawks
I know you must surely be full of yourself!
I see you In fields, open woodlands, and forests
on lawns and in parking lots
you raid garbage cans and
pick over what we throw out

you are a great teacher
of cleverness and versatility
It is no wonder you are beloved of the Goddess

Deanne Quarrie 2009