and now for something a little different today
Disclaimer: In spite of it’s annoying alarm clock quality I am a great admirer of Corvus who never forgets and who often has a wicked sense of humour and vindication.
“It was all the fault of Phoebus’ wife you know,” complained the crow loudly as he watched the sun chariot rise into view. “Her infidelity was my downfall. After all, I was not always as you see me now. At one time my feathers were as white as the first snowfall. They shimmered like starlight and I could sing more beautifully than a wren.” A winter wren sitting on a lacy tree branch warbled a skeptical dissent and took flight, having heard this story many times before. Unruffled the crow continued, “I merely reported what I had seen to the cuckolded husband and this was how he repaid me!”
“You really are a very cheeky fellow and shame on you for telling tales on others!” exclaimed the disapproving blackbird who flew off with the flock to find some quiet fold in dawn’s radiant robes. The crow cringed with chagrin but could not help himself and so whether anyone would listen or not, the unceasing, protesting, yawp continued forth on the woodland’s frosty breath and through the open mouth of morning.
( my own interpretation of a story from Ovid’s Metamorphoses retold in Chaucer’s Canterbury tales. For his tattle the crow was given black feather and an unmelodious voice)
Another true story
Neighbours of mine had a little Norfolk Terrier cross who loved to chase crows, and yapped loudly while doing so. The husband and wife purchased a little shop in the village and one day they left the dog tied up outside while they were renovating. “Spike” began to bark and yip frantically. When they went outside to investigate they observed a “murder” of raucous crows who were dropping twigs and sticks on the helpless victim and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
Enchanted,my friend Cybele,by the magic of your photos,the power of your words and the fascinating “Time Tunnel”stories.Your allegorical writing style makes your narratives absolutely gripping 🙂 ☼ ^ ☼
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Thank you so much Doda. I love Aesop’s fables and allegorical tales. And I like the crow even though he is such a noisy complainer at times!!
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Oh,those beautiful solid-black birds!I love them too and no matter the species I love calling it raven.I have connected the word with so many UK legends …
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yes!
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Absolutely gorgeous imagery and fascinating stories (as always)! So good to be back. We haven’t seen any crows yet at our new house in the woods but I figure, like all things, all in good time! It’s the little ones that crowd around the bird feeder and take turns. I can see I’m going to have to start learning my birds! Love the time tunnel. With several more inches of snow on the ground (first real snow for me in 30 years), I’m relating to poor Alice! 😀
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thank you Linda!! Good to hear from you again! No snow here this year!! Dreary grey, rain and wind storms!!( Windstorms are exciting though except when you lose power!)
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That hooded man looks like the black riders from The Lord of the Rings. Nice story, Cybele my dear. You have a certain disarming way with stories. Your stories seem to flow from a generous heart. You are kind to your characters. It’s wonderful.
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your comments are so lovely Peter. Sometimes I wish I could be a bit more ruthless!! I am so pleased you like my stories! I enjoy yours for the compelling journey into the depths of our souls! You are never afraid to reveal the darker caverns!!
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I’m a great fan of Corvus too, Cybele – having one perched on my shoulder, gabbling in my ever receptive ear, is a personal fantasy. Once more, wonderful and enthralling images. Adrian 🙂
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thanks so much Adrian! oh you must post a pic of that!!
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Wonderful. Thank you! xo DG >
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thank you DG!!
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Crows are fascinating creatures. I love your retelling of the story and I can easily see them ganging up on Spike in such a way! Beautiful pictures, as well. 🙂
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thanks so much for reading Louise!! They are!!
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Gorgeous shots and even better aloinside your words.
All the best to you!, Aquileana 🌟.-
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many thank you’s Aquileana!
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“…dawns radiant robe.” “…the open mouth of morning.” beautiful word imagery!
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thank you so much Kerena! Sometimes I think I’m in a slump but try to keep going!!
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Very surreal Cybele, I love the corvus also!
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thanks Maria!!
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Two lovely stories, and stunning images! I have a large colony of crows in the trees of the churchyard opposite my house. They are noisy, but I like them. I put food out for my little Robin, Wagtail and Blackbird. The crows found it and were partying raucous lynch. The three little birds actually joined forces and drove away the crows! I have never seen anything like it! Once the crows frightened away a bird of prey that was hiding in my garden. It happened so quick I couldn’t see what kind of bird it was, but it was big and pale.. I think it must have been after the crows eggs or babies.
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thank you Ali! Bird watching can be very interesting can’t it. Of course we always attribute our own human qualities to them and who knows!! Crows are so intelligent and loud and sometimes nasty!! lol.
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I love this piece. Image too. I love corvids too.
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thanks so much Sherry!
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Yes, that is something crows would enjoy ☺
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yes!! lol!
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Poor Spike, that’s a great true story! And a beautiful fiction Cybele – I love crows and that’s a great back story for the crow.
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Thank you Andrea, so good to have you back!!
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I love these
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thank you!!
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The crow, a legend in the mysteries of time. Great stories and images.
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thank you so much George!
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wow, great stories.
and there is something in cheeky birds, that we often like them… (e.g., Kea)
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Yes!! and here’s to the Kea! Thanks Rockhopper!
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Awesome!
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many thanks Raj!!
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excellent post
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thank you Gavin!
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I love your storytelling- lyrical and rich.
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many thanks for the sparrow’s song!
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Those crows really had a field day. Revenge is sweet. 🙂
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indeed!!
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Two great stories! Right now I’m not a big fan of Crows. They love my new little fountain! There are about 20 of them using it to bath in and drink from it. That would be alright if they bathed, drank and left, but they like to hang around all morning! It’s kinda creepy in a Hitchcock’s The Birds way to look out the window and see them in the Ginko Tree, and all around the front yard.
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haha- they can be very annoying – and noisy!! thank you Deborah!
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You definitely captured the personality of a real crow with your words.
(and I can see that happening to the poor dog. Those birds have a sense of humor.)
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thanks so much Phil and I agree, they do!!
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Beautiful words and images
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thanks Sheldon!
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love the weave of the descriptive imagery as always – and the illustrations.
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ty!! as always!
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Love that last image of the Time Tunnel…do I see the White Rabbit, his lost pocket watch….and Alice?
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oh yes!! thanks Sue!
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Cleverly, imaginatively done! 😊
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🙂 much appreciated!
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That tale of the crow was great, but of the dog, even better! I hate yapping dogs, even my own when it yaps. 🙂
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lol!! that’s a true story!
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Some great illustrations to your crow tales. I particularly like the time tunnel – I feel like I’m in that vortex myself right now – between last year and the new year not really making much progress into the future in the present time 🙂
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I hear you! thank you Suzanne! It’s slow going for me too!
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Me too……
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we are not alone!
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Also an admirer . . . wish I could befriend a few.
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🙂
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