Crows

[Bob Pacey]

I musta wrote this but I cannot remember it was on my old usb stick from the old computer

Crows

Now I've been around for quite a while
at a lot of jobs I've had a crack.
I've worked on out back towns and stations
and humped a swag upon my back.

I've spent a lot of time in country pubs
far from the cities bustling swell.
I'd just there quietly and listen
to the stories that the drinkers tell.

But no matter where I found myself
in between a blue or two.
The talk would turn to animals
and the quirky things they would do.

They breed them tough in Ilfracombe
and at end of day the place would swell.
You'd find half the population
at the old Well Shot Hotel.

I'd sat there in the public bar
battered stockmen's hats amidst the throng.
The banknote's pinned upon the wall
told of drinkers long since gone.

The yarns were flying thick and fast
they told of fire and rain or drought.
tall stories told by all the locals
or by ringers few would doubt.

Then up piped Billy Thompson
one of the local crew.
His red hair and fiery temper
meant his mates all called him Blue.

Now you blokes just ain't seen nuthing
and I should flaming know.
The smartest animal I've ever seen
is a plain old bloody crow.

Why when we were kids he stated
we had a farm down Broadmount way.
My mum used to grow some veges
that she tended each and every day.

The bloody crows would raid her plot
and get stuck into the corn.
Mum got pretty tired of chasing them
her valiant efforts most forlorn.

Then a traveller at the local shop
told mum a trick that worked the most.
Just shoot one of the bloody things
and hang it on the post.

So mum reckoned it was worth a try
and picked off one or two.
We strung the crows along the fence
such a motley looking crew.

Well it worked a bloody treat
we watched that murderous crew all day.
The dead ones flapping in the breeze
kept the rest of them at bay.

Ah come on Blue ! Mick Andrews cried
is that all they bloody did.
We tried that with the dingoes
when I was just a kid.

Hang on now Mick ! Blue shouted
I tell you mate those crows were smart,
and just to scare them off the veges
at least gave poor mum some heart.

We reckoned they were so scared
those crows knew when to stop.
They sat sitting on the fence line
starring at mums thriving crop.

Cause next day when we checked the garden
the sight made poor mum smile.
They'd brought back all the corn they stole
and placed it neatly in a pile.

Bob Pacey (C)

01/08/04

[Maureen K Clifford]

I remember going out to a property where they had dead crows strung along the fence and on the clothesline - I was horrified - we also came across a dingo - or what was left of it - strung up on the dingo fence - the same kind of mentality at play but crows are smart. We noticed that if we came out just holding a long stick and took aim with that they wouldn't budge an inch - but if you came out with the rifle they would all take off. I don't know how they knew the difference but they certainly appeared to.

[Catherine Lee]

Indeed they are - scarily smart! Really enjoyed this poem Bob.

[Ian A]

Having been told how crows tackle a cane toad, i now have a different opinion of them. Does anyone have any first hand experience on this?
Ian

[Shelley Hansen]

Yes Ian, I have watched a crow expertly flip a cane toad and disembowel it, avoiding the toxic glands completely. Very deft!

But I think it would take a lot more crows than we have, to deal with the cane toad problem!

Cheers, Shelley