One for the Crows

A friend of mine has great admiration for crows,
Often writes about them too, saying
Crows unlike us humans are not only happier
But smarter with much moxie and mojo.
 
To me though, they always struck as a nuisance-
Shabby, uncouth, ungraceful, noisy and messy;
Always squabbling, snatching off each other
A cunning and scheming lot, all of them.
 
People no wonder would shoo them irritated,
Never caring for their company around.
Under myriad pretexts and allegations,
Crows have always been at the receiving end.
 
But why after all; what compels this wrath?
Perhaps in their unabashed actions,
Do we see our own shadows and reflections;
The ones which we all tend to run away from?
 
Intrigue made me observe beyond the obvious.
Despite all our finger-pointing and name-calling
The crow-folk remained unfazed, always happy;
At sunset, like clockwork, content and in peace.
 
They aren’t aware nor care about these prejudices
We humans pile against them, on mere face value.
Their needs are basic and their lives as simple-
Live each day and live it as fully as can be lived!
 
Hot and cold with the neighbours, just like us;
Lose no opportunity to gain, not too unlike us.
But the heavens forbid if one of them is attacked
The murder* unites, no bystanders, quite unlike us.
 
Us, the evolved human kind and them, mere birds,
Our exalted intellect while theirs, for simply living.
I’d observed, I deliberated and now I too agree,
They are the birds and we, mere human beings.
 
 
 
*a group/flock/gathering/roost of crows is called a ‘murder of crows’
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Crows are some of the most misunderstood of birds, prejudiced and disliked for no fault of their own. I wish to express my admiration and respect for the highly intelligent and even inspirational survivalists of the avian kingdom.