This is a partial representation. But first, a review.  

Brian Goodson's poetic children's story, Little Crow, is a series of adventures by a little crow as he learns from his elders––much like children learn from good teachers––lessons in life.

While meant for Native American children in grade school, harkening of a time when village elders taught children how to live their lives, Brian's story applies to all children who are interested in animal stories and fables.

While I can chuckle at Little Crow's foibles as he greets new challenges, I can identify with his overcoming obstacles and becoming successful.  There is a lesson for us all in that.

Truly enjoyable.  You must get a copy and read it to your children at night time.

Ronald W. Hull, author of Brian Bushytail and the Urban Forest and many other stories.

Little Crow

Goodson-1 

Little Crow

“What are these? No, not for me! There must be more, there has to be!” Little Crow he said these words, and elder crow his words he heard.

“It’s worms we eat right from the ground, it’s worms we eat they’re all around.”

Little Crow, said “I don’t know, I’m very young, a little crow.”

“Then you will learn, your time will come, yes you will learn, you’ll have your turn!”

“How shall I know? What shall I do? I am not yet the age of two.”

“Then you will see, just follow me and you may see the age of three.”

The bird flew off, on big strong wings, to show Little Crow so many things. He showed him meadows, fields of green, and helped him use his eyes so keen. They flew on high, they flew so low, it seemed he almost touched his toe. The elder bird he knew so much, Little Crow wished just to touch.

“Wait and see, oh no not yet, just wait and see, watch what you’ll get.”

“My wings are tired, it’s been so long”

“A little more you will be strong.”

The little crow just flew and flew, he knew not what else he may do. The river came, the hilltop too, he flew on in the sky so blue. “Enough, enough, it can not be, we have come far. Do you not see?”

“I see you clear, as bright as day, and you will go all of the way.”

The little crow did huff and puff, and knew that he had quite enough. “No, no wait,” the elder said, “we are almost there, we have a date.” Little crow, so young and tired, flew past hills, and then past mires.

“Almost there now, you will see, just past that hill and there we’ll be.” The little crow, so young and small, knew for sure he would soon fall. He followed on, and past the hill at last to land at a river unstill. “What have we here? What have you done? What will we find? Will this be fun?”

“Stand and rest, now, rest and wait, better here than what you ate!” The river ran, it ran so fast, little crow was sure it could not last. The sun it climbed, it climbed so high that Little Crow asked elder why.

“Very soon now, ready then. You will see, you will know when.” The little crow did wait some more, he did not know what it was for. The water splashed, the water white, the elder crow flew very light. Upon the bank, upon the shore, the little crow saw so much more.

The elder crow did catch the fish. “You flew so far, you got your wish!” He flew so far, flew past the wood. He ate the fish. The fish was good.

“We eat the worms, found all around, but try for more, more may be found.”

            The little crow grew big and strong, and very soon, it was not long,

met a little crow like once was he.

“Come young friend, you will like what you will see.”

Part Two

Atop a big tree sat Little Crow,

So high was Little Crow, he saw all below.

He felt the sunlight shining down.

He saw the painted turtle cross the ground

“Ah-uh,” he said, a happy crow

“Ah-uh” he said, “all is well you know.”

“Ah-uh, caw, caw,” to the morning bright.

“Ah-uh, to all. Everything is all right.”

All at once, a mockingbird

flew right at him,  and did not turn.

“Uh-oh, what is this, bird with feathers striped?

Uh-oh, what is this? This is not right!”

“You can not be here, oh no, you can’t!

I am mockingbird, this is my land!”

“How can you say, do you not see?

There is plenty here, for you and me!”

“You must go, my nest is near.

Yes, you must go, you can’t stay here!”

“But I come each morning, to this tree.

Yes, I come each day, to look, to see.”

“Then come no more, “ said the mockingbird.

“I do not want you here, have you not heard?”

“But this is my place each day, this tree.

I let you know just what I see.”

“Go away, this is my home.

Yes, go away, leave us alone.”

So sad, Little Crow he flew away,

to find a different place to stay.

He made his way, from tree to tree.

There were none so tall as where he used to be.

For days and days he thought of Mockingbirds nest.

He had seen the baby birds. He was not a pest.

So, Little Crow flew on heavy wings

He flew all around, and saw so many things.

He ate, he slept, and he flew all around.

He saw the owl, sleeping sound.

The owl would know, oh yes he would

The owl is wise. The owl is good.

“Tell me wise owl, just what should I do.

I am called Little Crow. I am asking of you.”

The owl his eyes, grew so big and wide

He looked at Little Crow, and then up at the sky.

“Time will tell, my young friend, time and again it is true.

Time will tell you and then, you will know what to do.”

“Wooliwon,” said Little Crow, “and Wado, too.

Those are Indian words that mean Thank you.”

Little Crow flew away, “I knew, I knew!

The owl he knows, what he says will come true!”

Soon, one day, and without fail

Little Crow saw a squirrel with a twitching tail.

“Uh, oh, what is wrong?” he asked his furry friend

“A cat,” Squirrel said, “this may be the end!”

Little Crow looked to see,

and saw a cat at the base of the mockingbird tree.

“Uh-oh, oh no, this cannot be!

Where are the mockingbirds, where can they be?”

“Over there,” said squirrel, “in yonder blue.

They look for food, just like we do!”

“Uh-oh, oh, no. There I must go.

I must find them. Yes, they should know!”

Little Crow flew fast, on speedy wings.

He flew right past so many things.

Uh-oh,” he cried to the mockingbird.

“You must come now, have you not heard?”

“I have heard not a single sound!

Why are you still here? Why are you still around?”

“Uh-oh, a cat, it climbs your tree.

Uh-oh, go and you will see,”

Mockingbird, both Mom and Pop,

they flew so fast, they did not stop.

Very soon, they both did see

A cat, climbed halfway up their tree.

Pop mockingbird, he did not stray

He swooped down on the cat right away.

“Cat you must go, it’s true you see.

These are my young, this is my tree!”

The cat he ducked, all full of fear.

What had hit his head? Was it still near?

He looked around, but could not see.

What hit his head? What can it be?

That cat was soon struck yet again.

The cat jumped down, and off he went.

“Ah-huh,” said Little Crow so happily.

“He left, ah-uh, all is well, you see.”

The mockingbird flew to Little Crow.

“You saved them, friend, you are a hero!

I am sorry, I was wrong. I wish you would stay.

Friends like you should be near, and not far away.”

Little Crow flew, his heart so light.

The owl he knew. The owl was right.

It is the way of things that we are all free,

and to grow to become what we are meant to be.

Little Crow sat in his tree, in the morning light.

He felt the sun on his wings, he felt so right.

Since the birth of time, and every day

Little Crow sits in his tree, lets us know its okay.

“Ah-uh,” he says, to greet the day.

“Ah-uh,” he says, “with my friends I will stay.”

New Installment 01/10

And in our homes, we have the best

Not odd, shiny things, not like your nest.

We have branches of timber, grass fresh from the meadow,

Not like what you have. You are such a strange fellow.

There is nothing wrong that I can see.

You are who you are, who you are meant to be.

Each day comes the sun, it hangs in the sky.

Each day comes the sun. I do not ask why.

You are you, and I am me.

That is how it is supposed to be.

Here comes the rain. Here comes the storm.

My nest is right, it keeps me warm.