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

[Dara]

This is an absolutely stunning write. I love the flow and rhythm it has and the rhyming is just wonderful. Very clever and a most enjoyable read!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dara for your response, very much appreciated and I'm glad you enjoyed the read.
read moreThank you Dara for your response, very much appreciated and I'm glad you enjoyed the read.

Chris

[Jimmy Yetts]

An intriguing portrayal.
"The Rowan Tree" even spooks a murder of crows!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jimmy :)

[alanwgraham]

We neglect our trees at our peril so well done Christine for your arboreal artistry. I think in Scotland we may be more aware of the rowans folklore. Having said that we have just cut down a 20 rooknest sycanore with mixed feelibgs. I guess their feelings are not mixed!
I liked your thoughtful poem
Regards.
Alan

[Chris Shaw]

A 20 rooknest sycamore? Wow Alan, I hope it wasn't too close to your home. I can still hear that noise jarring in my ears. What a din. Do understand what you mean, a loss of a tree is always sad to me, and I am very much a lover of trees. Birds too, but not this variety. Thank you for your response.

Chris

[alanwgraham]

One good thing to come out of the tree was my recent story Deja vu if you like spooky stuff.
We are sitting in the sun with a friend in the dordogne trying not to think about Ryanair tomorrow.
Regards.
Alan

[Chris Shaw]

Enjoy the last of your holiday. I'll take a look at your latest story Alan, quite like being spooked. lol

[Chris Shaw]

Called on that one already, a while ago and left a response. Thoroughly enjoyed the read.

[alanwgraham]

Apologies. I think I have sunstroke.

[Chris Shaw]

:))) ............

[sette]

crows here symbolize misfortune and death, so maybe we don't care about them but by reading your poem is something that gives me the other side of the nature of the crows so thanks for this informative piece as well.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you sette. I have also learned quite a bit myself today from my readers about these noisy birds. Pleased you found the poem informative.

Chris

[Nigel Newman]

Christine Hi. As with all your work, this paints lovely pictures, though I share your displeasure with noisy birds. The worst ones for us are magpies - they sound almost prehistoric. I'm sure you know that crows are highly intelligent, and also brave. Many is the time I've seen them buzzing and harassing a buzzard who might threaten their nest.

As regards your poem itself, to me it felt like you changed your focus after the first verse. V1 is very general, if you will, and would lend itself to more things of a pastoral kind. Then the poetic rant! I think I would have a look at making some indirect reference to the crows in V1 so that their presence was sort of foretold. V1 is good and V2-4 are also good. But for me they aren't flowing together as seamlessly as they might.

BRs Nigel

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Nigel, thank you so much for your review. I am always happy to hear from you and any suggestions that you might make to improve what I have written. All carefully considered. Yes I am aware of their intelligence, but you have indicated their bravery too which I was not aware of. They are certainly very noisy. This piece was written quite a while back and I am pleased to have posted the poem here today because my readers have been able to provide me with useful information.

All good wishes

Chris

[Ken Simm.]

First of all I've got to say how much I enjoyed this wonderful piece of writing. It flows and comes together so effortlessly well.
Secondly can I add a little bit of lore about Rowan trees that you may or not not know. My apologies if you do. A rowan with its roots off the ground is a witches tree according to highland folklore.
If I can make another, I know pedantic suggestion. There is an old country saying if you see a rook on its own its a crow. If you see a crow in a flock they are rooks. I think what you have is a rookery. Crows nests are solitary affairs. Please feel free to ignoreall that however it does not distract from an excellent, well formed write.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for reading Ken and a special thank you for the additional info. I found that fascinating to learn. Pleased you enjoyed the poem.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

Lovely > Rowan trees survive in all conditions
Up on the side of Ennerdale valley amongst a boulder scree there is/was a small coppice of them (spindly things struggling to survive
Oh one of those would look nice in a corner of our garden >> there was a small sapling six inches tall. We carefully removed it and took it home - It grew into a huge tree - too large for the garden > its trunk is now a garden seat

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Wild Rose, I know that you too are a tree lover. I like the idea of a tree trunk being turned into a garden seat. I'm sure your engineering skills were very helpful in completing that task. Thank you for your response. Always appreciated.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

Son does the hard work now
We had a cherry Blossom tree blown down. He cut it into logs & used them as a low border at the side of our front porch so we couldn't take short cuts . one part has a strawberry plant taken root on the top

[Wild Rose]

Oh Rowans are reputed to keep witches away
We have never had any witches - Ha

[emmajoy]

Perhaps rooks are meant to remind us that silence is golden!? If in fact they do that, then, what great favour-makers! Suggest a klaxon or one of those old wooden bird scarers.. makes for good exercise too! (Secretly, I agree, but living in the virtual middle of rural nowhere, the crows are on par with muck spreading!) As for the rowan tree.. has a history to explore.. fascinating.

So' enjoy your writing, it opens up so many channels of interest for me.. plus.. and importantly, is written in such fine form, Chris. x

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Em. This was temporary, as we were on holiday at the time, so our peace wasn't disturbed for too long. What a racket though, and they were interesting to observe.

Chris x

[Jon Roggie]

Early in the morning, I hear the scrub jays begin their daily argument with the mockingbirds. Crows chase off the hawks, and quickly occupy the nest. The smaller ones nest in the orange trees, which are evergreens. Another raucous morning.

Sorry, I tend to respond to words.
Feels better than simply saying great write.

Jon

[Chris Shaw]

Don't apologise Jon. I am very happy indeed to get any response. Feel free to respond in whatever way suits you best my friend.

Chris

[Gee]

Good morning, had to Google the rowans folklore, learn something new everyday.
Crows and magpies, same family, visit our garden at 4:30ish most mornings as we live just across from a small woodland. Man they make a racket, and when they're done the pigeons start.
Will have to get my rhyming head on in the near future and try my hand.
Enjoyed my early morning visit, hope you are well Christine

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Gee. Yes all ok here, hope the same for you. Yes, I'm not a lover of crows, never have been. Mainly because of the noise and because they seem to be associated with death. Thank you for reading and your response.

Chris