A poem inspired by Mary Oliver

For the 1 minute and 20 second video to accompany this poem, click here.

There are birdfights

compound like doghouse, lunchbox

these are cacophony crows

chasing the hawk onto a solitary branch

their shouting disturbs

the starling chorus arranged

whole and half notes

with a careful (or careless?) treble

so they escape

in an orb of black flutters

to a nearby tree

changing chanson

to chatter

like old time operators

plugging in the chords

connecting calls

MaBell as she was

didn’t know the birds

still find her ancient ways convenient

they’ve rearranged now

back into their scores

except for the ravens’ caw

crow warning

this is the medicine

of protection

a new order back again