The Carrion Crow
Crows abound in the
neighborhood and around the
yard. Often in early morning a
great, noisy caw-fest occurs.
A carrion crow
sat on an oak, fol de rid-
dle, lol de riddle…
Only tiny oaks sprout here and
there, as planted by industrious
blue jays. Crows sit in the
neighbors' incense cedar,
redwoods and other
miscellaneous, unlooked-after
bushes.
Watching a taylor
Shape his cloak; Sing heigh-ho
the
carrion crow, fol…
Crows are very smart, it's
known. They can pick latches,
love to collect small shiny
objects and are good thieves.
Wife bring me my old,
bent bow, fol de riddle, lol
De riddle, hi ding…
Crows in this neighborhood are
urban crows. It may be this
makes them smarter than their
country cousins. Nevertheless
they are well nourished and
sleek for living on the city
streets.
That I may shoot
Yon carrion crow; sing heigh-
Ho, the carrion…
Crows often crack a walnut by
dropping it repeatedly from a
street light standard. There's
an instance in town where a
house down-spout was clogged
with too many shells. A crow or
crows opened nuts while on the
roof.
The Taylor he shot
And missed his mark, fol de
rid-
dle, lol de riddle…
A crow across town enjoyed a
left-over, smashed-flat-in-a-
parking lot, bag of French-fry
and hamburger leavings; held
the paper down with a foot and
picked it clean.
And shot his old sow
Quite through the heart; sing
heigh-ho
The carrion crow,
Fol-de-riddle, lol de riddle, hi
ding do.
Wife bring brandy—in
A spoon for our old sow is
In a swoon! Heigh-ho…
