A Rowan Tree

(Watching and listening to the antics of crows, seen before the rowan sprung into leaf)

A rowan overlooks a brook,

once parched and thirsty, starved of rain.

'Though in the windy, dead of night

a heavy downpour fills again,

the bed left wanting where the flow,

for months has trickled far too slow.

Above the dampened, tangled roots,

are sturdy limbs exposed to sun,

five nests of noisy jousting crows

in mid-air clashes, 'Oh be done'.

My neighbours, they are not polite

and much prefer to squawk and fight.

No canopy of leafy green

to hide their antics from my eyes,

as sunshines filters through the cloud

to brighten up the Sunday sky.

How loud is this community,

who've moved next door to bother me?

A murder of those wretched birds,

their din is heard for streets around.

Their sound offends my fine-tuned ear,

much better that they go to ground.

The folklore of the rowan tree,

so dark that even crows should flee.

Reviews

[Lorry]

Crows never really got a reputation of beautiful song and are more like the gangster of the bird world, threatening and intimidating. And just as you paint a beautiful nature scene, their introduction changes the colour and perspectove of the piece, and your slightly tarnished day.
but what do I know? They may be lovely, if not silent :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Lorry. Not a lover of crows I'm afraid. You are so right, they are a bit like the gangster of the bird world. This lot were incredibly noisy and constantly fighting. Not much peace that Sunday afternoon. Thanks for reading.

Chris

[Neville]

your love of the countryside and of nature in general is clearly evident here Chris .. you have a keen eye both for the big picture and for the most minute of details .. an enjoyable read this very early mane ..

Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Neville for airing this old poem. I haven’t read it for five years. Good to breathe some life back into it. Hope your Wednesday has been a good one.

Chris

[Neville]

it has been busy but not been bad & you are most welcome ... Neville

[Phill Oz O'fee]

The ‘Rowan’ was thought to be a magical tree and give protection against malevolent beings. According to the mythological narration, Apollo sent a crow to spy on his lover, Coronis. Combining the two, I would suggest closing your curtains after dark, as the birds may be atop the tree to ‘spy’ on your nocturnal activities – great write by the way – really grabs the reader’s attention and stimulated my imagination … :-)

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased they were only neighbours for the duration of a holiday! I only have blackbirds singing in my garden, no need to close the curtains where I am now. I love all this myth and folklore stuff, it's so interesting. Pleased you enjoyed the read Phill

[AYVID N]

One should hear them if a single one of them gets into trouble. They swarm over and create such a terrific cacaphony. Another creepy thing I was reading about them was that crows remember human faces ewww. My compliments on this poem Chris. Narrated in such an engaging way, bringing the leafless rowan to life.

[Chris Shaw]

Is that a fact? They remember human faces? That is scary stuff. They certainly saw mine lol. Thank you DIVYA

Chris

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I have a flock of Grackles which summer in my backyard woods. They are constant chatterers; slighter than crows, satin blue-black and sleek. We have red-tail hawks in our neighborhood as well which sometimes kill the Grackles and a half dozen will pursue the hawk to the neighbor's woods. I enjoyed your poem of the Rowan tree and the crows. The Rowan is prevalent in protecting one against witchcraft I believe. They used to plant them in graveyards to protect the sleep of the dead.The latter fact I got from my Cassell Dictionary of Superstitions. Crows are seen as omens of death and disaster in general and were once thought to be familiars of witches so the two stand in stark contrast and form an intriguing foundation for this wonderful poem. I enjoyed the read.

[Chris Shaw]

Such an informative response Fabian. Thank you and I'm pleased you enjoyed the poem.

Chris

[Stella Armour]

The rowan tree has so many supposed mythological connections that those crows should be now cursed lol
The crow family all seem to have a deathly threat about them, i dislike them too...

i always enjoy the rhythm of you poetry Chris...:)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Stella, appreciate your comments.

Chris

[Mrudula Rani]

Wonderful words about the noisy neighbors. We have no crows here iin Brasil. But every time I visit India, I am treated to their ruckus.... they get up to crowing 4 in the morning ( have no consideration for jet lagged travelers). I hope The Rowan Tree they roost on is not too close to your bed room window.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you M. This happened when we were on holiday for a week. At home I have the sweet birdsong of blackbirds, nothing so jarring outside my bedroom window.

Chris

[Mrudula Rani]

Chris, What a wonderful experience that must be, hearing black birds sing in your garden. All we have are tiny wood pigeons that I feed on my widow sill.

[Pete]

that's quite a tree (with its little berries i believe). great writing. this is the good stuff of life. i was immediately drawn into the scene and felt like i was there experiencing all. i can well relate as they used to wake me up with their squabbling at my former homestead. ughh - that incessant, ear-piercing, "caw", "caw", "caw" like children. indeed, they can be an unpleasant community. well done Chris, perhaps too well as it brought back sleep-interrupting memories. a clever, off-the-beaten-path write ... :)

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Pete. Yes, they are noisy aren't they? I have blackbirds outside of my bedroom window, much sweeter. This happened on holiday. A week of ear jarring. Pleased you enjoyed the read, even though it reminded you of being rudely awakened.

Chris

[barleygirl]

I am a nature lover, but I draw the line on pesky critters! I definitely want quite a bit of quiet in my solitude here & I would be hating such a crow blow! You convey your irritation as if it's growing from beginning to end of poem, as if your political/environmental correctness is wearing thin before our very eyes! *wink! wink!* I hope you can find a deterrent! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

Fortunately for me, it wasn't ongoing. Just while we had a week away, yes a holiday where I was looking for peace and quiet Margie. Smiling at you, my patience dear Margie has since been restored and all is well.

Chris

[LKBillips]

Really liked this poem. Wonderful flow and engaging topic. The words you've used are pleasing to the ear and make it feel current and ancient at the same time. Nice job.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your positive review. Greatly appreciated.

Chris

[Great Aunt Astri]

I like the format and rhyming scheme (eyes; sky... not skies? perhaps 'to brighten up the morning skies'?) and I had to smile. Those crows (or rooks, I think they are) do make a terrible racket! But luckily, not all the time. When they make that racket i just try to imagin they are in Pariament, I think there is a saying to that effect (I will ahve to look it up) Maybe they are just debating with the Rowan tree! I enjoyed your poem.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Great Aunt Astri. As someone who watches the UK Parliament in action on tv (from time to time) I am nodding in agreement. There are similarities, strong ones :))

[Great Aunt Astri]

Just looked up 'Collective Nouns For Groups of Birds. There are;
'murder of crows'
'gaggle of geese'
'charm of finches'
'host of sparrows'
'congregation of starling'
'posse of turkeys'
and yes, a 'parliament of rooks!!!!' and many many, more. How wonderful is the English language!

[Great Aunt Astri]

just looked up Collective Nouns for Groups of Birds.

There are;
'murder of crows'
gaggle of geese'
'charm of flinched'
'host of sparrows'
posse of turkeys'
and yes ... 'a parliament of rooks' and many, many more ... How wonderful is the English language!!!

[Chris Shaw]

I have to agree, the English language is wonderful. Some of these you have found are quite new to me. A host of sparrows, charm of flinches and a parliament of rooks. Great stuff.