Crow Cawing, Parody of “Hawk Roosting”

(A parody of Ted Hughes’ “Hawk Roosting” of 1960, which is a beautiful poem. A tribute, if you will, to hawks. This is my, um...tribute to crows.)


Crow Cawing


I stand upon the high wire,
eyes wide open.
It is that drowsy time of morning,
between night and dawn.
Caw! Caw! Caw!

My call becomes
actively louder
with each heartbeat.
Between my beady,
yellow eyes
and my wrinkled,
gnarled claws
there is nothing, but
Caw! Caw! Caw!

This wire I stand upon,
conveniently
looks directly into
bedroom windows.
And the sleepers’ ears
are upward – for my inspection.
Caw! Caw! Caw!

They sleep still. I try again.
My feet are locked upon the wire;
I will not fall, though
I shake as I put
great force
into my wake-up call.
Caw! Caw! Caw!

It took God a while
to produce this voice of mine.
Now, I hold the fate
of slumber
in my throat.
Caw! Caw! Caw!

Sometimes, I fly up
and look at them
from a greater distance;
or, perch on their
windowsill
to get an even
closer look.
Caw! Caw! Caw!

I do this as I please,
because it is my right.
I am not subtle in this,
I have no need,
but to be heard.
Caw! Caw! Caw!

This, only this, is my goal.
To go through the dreams
of the sleepers –
no arguments must I propose.
The sun is rising. They stir.
Caw! Caw! Caw!

I have not changed
direction
since I began.
My determination is
unwavering.
I am going
to keep things like this.
Caw! Caw! Caw!


by: Mary Westlie-Jones
written May 25, 2005