Do the crows know
a group of them
is called a murder?
A murder, their lunch,
delivered by guns on
humans’ hands.
Do the rooks wear some
suit and tie, to fit their
name— a parliament. Do
they get to decide where
the next bomb will
spit out its wreak? Oh,
that’s on us, again.
These corvids probably
think these terms sound
best to describe us (not
them). Morbid names
for cruel mortals
with skin on.
—
A Reading Writer 
couldn’t agree more, they are terms more befitting those elite few who murder and politic! Not intelligent birds 🙂
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I cannot agree more! Maybe we can start renaming this elite as per their traits.
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… that would make for a very long name! Arrogant, bigots, liars, hypocrites, blind, deaf, foolish, ignorant, violators, perpetrators …. and they sure do need calling out!
ooh it felt so good to list just a few of their traits 😉
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I agree with your observations, Rosema! Our poems tackled the same theme, from different angles.
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oh that’s true! that’s the beauty of prompts. 🙂
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Corvid poetry! LOVE this!
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And i too wonder Rosie..
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I wonder too sometimes, Rosema! This is such a powerful, palpable and crisp write! ❤️
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Fantastic, Rosema. Obviously not the truth of it, but the way you’ve turned it around to use the dark collective nouns to describe human warmongering is so insightful and expertly done in so few words. I especially love these lines:
“Morbid names
for cruel mortals
with skin on.”
❤
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The irony and sarcasm – I love it. Really well done, cheers!
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Oh wait, that’s us. Truer words. Wonderful use of the prompt.
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Names carry meaning. The glorification of violence and celebration of virtual violence needs to be stopped as well as the weapons that make those things transferable to real life.
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Powerfully hard-hitting, Rosie. I’m glad you would write about crows–I love the ones in my neighborhood, they seem so curious. But I’m sure they have no worries like the ones you query in your poem. “Cruel mortals with skin on”…has me pondering: how many steps between cruel parents, and cruel people who become corrupt politicians and murderers, and those addicted to war? Praying for Peace, and sending you love.
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Clever! That last stanza is so good
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Indeed… we try our best to paint the worst of humans onto animals.
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Rosema, this is spot on! Love what you did here.
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