The Gathering
(Quatrains with refrains)
I hear a noisy gathering....
Gathering on a twisted tree
On leafless limbs they're lifted high.
Murder of crows, a mystery,
Agitated stress in their cry.
... this gathering of birds...
A cacophony heard for miles,
With evening shadows drawing nigh,
Sending eerie sound that riles
The ears of many passersby.
... this gathering of birds...
There, perched with claw, they caw and caw.
Attracting brothers to the group.
What drives attention that they draw?
In black circles, down they swoop.
... this gathering of birds...
How sinister they look up there!
Surly black bodies sitting still,
Omens of evil in the air.
Will dark powers exert their will?
... this gathering of birds...
These things I wonder when I see
A maelstrom perched upon a tree.
My mind keeps screaming out these words -
the birds, the Birds, The Birds, THE BIRDS.
... this gathering of birds.
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Author Notes
After Alfred Hitchcock released the movie - The Birds, I can never look at a gathered flock of birds without a chill running down my spine. A murder (flock) of crows is very eerie to me.
This poem is just a set of abab rhymed quatrains with closing aabb rhymed quatrain in 8 syllable count and refrains set in between as a simple device to add a bit of drama.
This picture was taken by the author himself, along the Mississippi river banks in January 2012.
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