Robert L. Hinshaw Poet Rhyme

A Clowder of Cats and a Murder of Crows

For those avid crossword groupies of which I are one,
I'm offering free of charge vital data to add to your fun.

So you're stuck on 15-down for the name of a barren of mules!
Groups of creatures you can now name if you use this set of rules!

A group of apes is a shrewdness and a gang of asses is a pace.
Tigers are a streak and you'd better streak should they give chase!

Can you believe that skittish plovers are called a congregation?
(I wonder, perhaps Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic or other denomination?)

You might see a cackle of hyenas or a tower of giraffes at zoos,
Or if on a Kenyan safari a bloat of hippos or a fleet herd of gnus.

The name for a prickle of porcupines is an appropriate moniker for sure!
A sleek bunch of ferrets is called a business, and, why, I'm unsure.

Pesky squirrels are called a scurry and a warren is for rabbits.
(There are many warrens of rabbits due to their promiscuous habits!)

Badgers are grouped as a cete and leopards are known as a leap;
Moles are known as a labor and a herd or drove identifies sheep.

Parliaments of owls meet in trees and eagles in convocations.
Jellyfish waft about in smacks and peacocks strut in ostentations!

Screeching cormorants are a gulp which sounds mighty weird.
Steer clear of a crash of rhinos since they are to be feared!

Charming finches are called a charm and larks an exaltation,
Turkeys a rafter, frogs an army and starlings a murmuration.

Locusts are known as a plague and cockroaches an intrusion.
An unkindness of ravens and their raucous caws just causes confusion!

Groups of humans are known as Republicans, Democrats or Nazarenes,
Jerks and morons but this barely includes all human species by any means!

Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
(c) 2014 All Rights Reserved

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Kilalo Mwashighadi July 22, 2015 at 8:10 AM This is amazing! I like this style. Congrats.

Lindsay Laurie January 26, 2015 at 9:15 PM G'day Robert... Very good. You taught me plenty here... a murder of crows! Who would have come up with that? Thank you Robert - Lindsay

Nette Onclaud October 24, 2014 at 7:40 PM meaningful and entertaining, bob!.. this is a creative, flowing work for one as observant as you...lovely, exciting puzzle!.. huggs

Timothy Hicks October 20, 2014 at 11:45 PM You're so hilarious, my friend! I adore how it's both zany and educational. I'm surprised you didn't fit a gaggle of geese into this verse. I always thought that was fun to say...

Andrea Dietrich October 19, 2014 at 6:37 PM Oh, Robert, I once did a poem about animals kind of like this one too. It's so fun to research their unusual names or the sounds they make and come up with rhymes. I think this would make a great little children's book.