earth note 173

half-dozen crows are bold enough
to take over the turning lane
carefully inside the yellow lines
pecking at what looks like
a heel from a rye bread loaf
.....maybe some loose caraway seeds
sensing cars coming fast
peeking from a hillside half-blind
a dozen wings flap collectively
sprint twenty yards into the trees
then return focused
persistent
dodging again
finally
a sentry calls off the raid
squawks new coordinates
to the north

the wind leads
ice into darkness

--- e b bortz