The Cawing of Crows
by Erin Elizabeth Kelly-Moen — Read all 1,670 poems by Erin Elizabeth Kelly-Moen
The crows were cawing
this morning,
the crisp morning air
was still,
the morning sky,
a rich, autumn blue,
slight wash of clouds,
shimmers of pastel sun
washing over the mountain tops,
here, in Arizona...
I knew what that meant.
I had been hearing them
the last several mornings,
gleeful and raucous...
I think of old beginnings,
ten years gone, mining house
on an old bench, one of
twelve cinder-block shelters
on a dead-ended street,
housing hope's lives...
Two years ago,
the cawing
would have offended
the family's mother
of that residence,
now empty, back windows
broken by childish rocks.
two houses away. Lovely
woman, with child-friend
to mine, they were
best friends...
But nothing stays the same,
here, where copper rules,
where careers
of years
begin and end, and so
they move,
away from our street,
to be replaced,
by new families, some
only dwell a year or two
here, on this level,
there are many such houses,
now, waiting for families...
Funny, we are the
second oldest occupants
on this benched road
of cinder-block houses
in this large, remote community
based on metal prices,
family ties and
the leveling of mountains...
I think of this,
as I listen
to the triumphant raspiness
of crows, ringing out sharply
as they gorge on
abandoned tree
of pecan-wealth,
in the cool of the morning,
relishing my stability,
my children's continuity,
and my husband's strength...
and I crow to myself,
unabashed and content,
answering the black birds,
telling them,
I will look for
their sons and daughters
next year, when I hear
the calling of crows
in the pecan tree
two empty houses over.
Erin Moen
11/15/02
Photo by Erin Moen
Friday, November 15, 2002
"Above/Below" is abit of a prequel/sequel to this, please read before/after, if you would!
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~Nikki~
What a marvellous appreciation of nature's beauty. The literary beauty - such a flowing poetic write up and the matching photo, all combine to glue the reader to the screen. Excellent! I can't afford to let this go without printing it for a week-end discussion. ZAN
This is gorgeous,when I was younger I use to think crows were not a good sign, now I have learned that they are a very beautiful, strong sign of the creator! You really should submit this somewhere! I am on my way to read your other one!
Hugs,
Maria
"Above/Below" sets the stage for this one, and enhances its meaning. You show brilliance in your work. A deeply colored passionate write. I love this so much. Bill
others staying the same, repetitive patterns...vivid imagery.
Excellent piece!
Cheers,
Tim
Thank you, Lady, Eileen and Paul, for your comments on my Crows piece!
Jack
I love this piece it is so excellent in imagery and stunning in creativity and verse.
Love it...Lady Peg