Big Black Birds

I wrote this a couple of years ago, before Juneau got the bear-proof garbage cans. Ravens often opened the old ones, digging out the trash that didn't interest them and eating the table scraps that did. And, the local Catholic church really did (and still may, for all I know) have a priest named Father Gorgeous.

That same year the crows on 7th street, a block from my place, were so territorial that they dive bombed pedestrians to drive them away from their nests. They also tried to get people to drop their grocery bags so that they could raid them. It was very annoying, and so a plaster owl was mounted to frighten the crows away. (Apparently they do scare woodpeckers.) Instead, the crows spent hours surrounding and scolding it.


Acting sensibly, I have no doubt,
Father Gorgeous set the garbage out.
But two cans have somehow lost their lids.
And Raven, like some vandal kids,
Is tossing all the trash around,
Devouring all the scraps he's found.

Crows, dive bombing from the trees,
Command 7th Street with ease.
Some neighbors have installed an owl,
A plaster one upon a dowel.
So now they roost above the walk,
And teach it, patiently, to talk.