“Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” by Wallace Stevens,1954.
This poem consists of thirteen separate haiku-like fragments, or vignettes, each of which references a blackbird in some way. As the poem’s title suggests, these fragments feature different perspectives in the form of fleeting experiences. (In some cases I have taken poetic license and interpreted blackbirds as black birds—because I love crows.)
Beautiful graphics and haiku. thank you. Crows are so smart.. In Oregpn at Jan’s house, the crows would take stale crackers, etc., dip in water before eating. Holy Communion?
liz Vernon says:
January 27, 2021 at 8:09 am
Beautiful graphics and haiku. thank you. Crows are so smart.. In Oregpn at Jan’s house, the crows would take stale crackers, etc., dip in water before eating. Holy Communion?l
I loved your video. Alex, I too am a lover of birds, and blackbirds especially. I have learned to talk to the crows. I really don’t know what I am saying, but they seem to like it. I can walk outside and go under our front tree when no birds of any kind are present. But within 15 minutes, that tree will have a dozen or more crows in it. I know they want food, so I will spread some edibles for them. Have you read that crows can recognize particular humans? I am living proof. When they see me in the neighborhood, they let me know they are hungry again.
I also like ravens, but they are seldom seen in Novato. Lots of them in west Marin. In Yellowstone a few years ago, we “talked” with a large raven who roosted very near to our car in the parking lot. A Yellowstone ranger told us that ravens and wolves have a symbiotic relationship. The ravens will lead the wolves to carrion and other food, and the wolves let them feast alongside them.
Starlings are noisy and less cuddly, but they too are all black. Come up to San Rafael some afternoon soon to see the murmmurations of hundred of starlings as they do an aerial ballet in the afternoon sky.
Some other black birds in Marin to like are the Black Phoebe and Red Winged Blackbirds.
Thanks!
One of my very favorite poems and by an interesting coincidence, I just reread it a few days ago.The graphics are simply beautiful. I can never tell the difference between a crow, a raven or a blackbird, but all of them enjoy shelling peanuts
Thanks for watching! I love all birds but the rowdy crows always make me smile; they hang out with the seagulls at the beach.
Thanks for watching it Liz. Cute image of the crows dipping their crackers–they always seem to be up to some antics that make me laugh. I’m not sure why they have such a bad reputation, (although I’m not trying to grow corn).
Thanks for watching it Bob! I would love to see the Starlings–I’ll bring my camera!