An Avian Dirge

Below the banyan tree it lay Ruffled feathers grey and white, Claws clenched in a hideous way Making a piteous sight. Upon the boughs its mates cawed loud Shrieks echoing in the green, The jaws of death could not make proud Nor paint its life with a sheen. A crow it was, a slimy thief An irritant to the eye, It gave the neighbours some relief Who had cursed that it would die. Then came a bunch of rakish boys Who were keen to have some fun, The deadened crow fueled their ploys Lying stiffly in the sun. A string they tied around its legs And hauled it along the ground, To swallow their fun to the dregs With its mates wailing around. Till they stopped at the village pond With waters muddy and stirred, A grave they dug with a wooden wand And buried the wretched bird. The raffish boys did then diverge But the crows sat there to cry, They sang their mate a soulful dirge Though it sounded somewhat wry. ***********