It's Still Life

Five and Half Crows

My view is a windowpane —
up the street, and then back down.
It’s Monday, which means the neighbours
have filled up their charity bags, and
set them at the curb for pickup today.
Sod’s Law, it’s started raining early,
and probably will do all day long.

The charity shop hates wet clothes,
and these storm clouds are hammering
us like rainy wings. Brought with it
six crows – one of them is missing
a leg, so maybe it’s 5-1/2 crows.
They are looking about, and testing
the bags, and calling back and forth

to each other like slow grief.
Black feathers, wet and slick, and
they’re pecking at the plastic bags,
tearing at them — shreds everywhere.
Our lawns are strewn with socks and
t-shirts, and our good intentions,
all in twists of charitable material.

for Miz Quickly’s Day 9: Starting Here