Crow Mornings

Crow Mornings Early mornings, bright ice blues as life wakens birds and squirrels scratch for seeds and nuts black crows pound at the tree strike and crush walnuts wait for cars to drive by to do their work for them — now winter’s broken three black crows complain in the early morning stand on the fence by the tree that is now bare they’ve learned to wait for me watching the window until I feel their eyes staring at me scratching at the post their walnut tree is bare now only three green leaves slowly dying into a brown-grey and will fall soon the three black crows will not leave the fence until I throw nuts and corn out to obtain their quiet then reaching for a nut or corn kernel held in their long beaks and sparkling black eyes staring — a quick squawk - approval? they disappear into the large pines across the way those same three crows each morning on the fence post near the steamy kitchen window waiting to see if I am still here, they follow me and my helper as we walk together, cane in hand into the park we walk with my dogs, visit with the park neighbors who wonder that I am still here one year longer than expected I see it in their questioning eyes in the mornings along with those 3 crows wanting a quick breakfast strutting and cawing waiting for their nuts and corn reminding me of life and duty in each precious day