If I could do better I certainly would,
Or nail myself to some other good.
Alas, I try with consequence grim,
Giving birth to strange creatures,
And one sorry hymn!
Ominous Birds
A murder of crows settled down
On our land; nary a frown
Did I see—just seven black birds
Hanging loose in the sky, no words
Can capture the fright that I feel,
As outside my window they wheel
In their flight and wheel till they vanish
Into the light, and wheel till they vanish
From sight; seven large birds
Black as night .
Hungry Creatures
Six raccoons live somewhere nearby,
Showing up each night after dark;
They treat our deck and balcony
As though it’s a rich food court park.
They’ll eat cat food and table scraps,
They’ll tussle and fuss on a lark,
It seems, and bat one another
Around, while the little dogs bark.
A committee of plump raccoons
Shows up promptly each night at dusk;
Without any motion they vote—
For victuals kill hunger, not husks.
Evil Beast
The wart hog from hell runs aground
When he spies fair maiden at hand;
Be she chaste, good and beautiful,
His rank evil lust turns to sand.
The wart hog is frozen in place,
For it’s virtue that wins this race.
Our Lady’s protected by grace.
A Backyard Rumble
A groundhog lives in our sunny backyard;
He stays well hidden for the dogs give chase
When they find him emerge for a repast.
He eludes them with panache and grace.
All Hell Breaks Loose
A wave of dark beasts flows over the lawn,
Their red eyes glowing like embers of fire,
Chittering loudly and clearly forthwith,
Their mouths salivating with foul desire.
Save me from Satan, my sweet Lord on high;
Lest the foul beasts drag me down to the gate
And feed me to Cerberus, guardian grim;
Don’t let the three-headed dog be my fate.
The Angel of light swooped out of the sky,
Sending beasts back to Hell, howling with fright.
With the land clear of the crew out of Hell,
The Angel ascended in silent light.
More Ominous Birds
An unkindness of ravens perched
On our roof, intending no good
To the neighborhood, or the land.
Symbols of dread, choosing to stand
Rather than soar in the darkness,
Ominous black birds in a band.
Why an “unkindness” of ravens?
Why call them a “murder” of crows?
Does naming determine their nature?
Would that be what someone close knows?
Ominous Beasts
A congregation of six crocodiles
Met in an old rugged church in the swamp;
“Or are we a menace?” the old elder asked,
His teeth protruding like moss on a stump,
Let’s first take a vote and then sing a hymn,
To the God of all gators and reptiles grim
Praise Him, alligators, praise him.
The Artificial Bird
All we were left was the bird on the lawn,
Cracked, weather-worn, and dripping with moss,
Forever grounded with wings tucked too tight—
The Holy Spirit had suffered great loss,
Wounded, speechless, incapable of flight.
My chest constricted, the silence within
Almost o’erwhelmed me; it felt more like sin.
Ascension approaches, our Lord takes wing,
Soaring from view; what will summer soon bring?
Ascending, descending, new bird of prey?
Lord have mercy; come soon and stay.
Gotcha!
