Cruel

awful scene

The devastation was total

 a macabre

pot pourri of 

her young

the lucky ones

didn't see it coming

couldn't have

mother stood 

at the roadside

Her keening

piercing my soul

the perpetrator

of the wickedness

still present

seemingly unperturbed

by the carnage

all around

I did not bid usual

good wishes 

to this murderer

whose onyx beak 

bore blood and 

broken shell 

clues to the crime 

Author's Note

I saw a magpie raid on a tiny birds nest in my tree. The nesting pair showed great courage in trying to fend off the much bigger predator but it was useless. The magpie raid devastated the nest that I was watching for weeks.

Reviews

[Enchanted-Raven]

So very sad, I raised a magpie years ago..quite the character it was...I have only ever seen a seagull attack little birds, the noise is something that stayed with me....excellent read :) x

[Tony Jordan]

They are super smart. I have watched the antics of a pair who nest in a tree a hundred metres from my house for some 15 years now (they are also dedicated soul mates lol). To me it seems like they actually farm the smaller songbirds the same way humans farm cows for beef. They protect them from cats and other predators then they strike when the same birds have nests nearby filled with eggs (and in some case chicks).
It's the way of nature.
I love that you raised the magpie. I tried with a sparrow but it died after a few days out of the nest :/

thank you E.R.

[Enchanted-Raven]

I have raised many birds, my father would find them whilst out rabbiting or people would bring them to me. Muffin was quite easy to raise, a greedy little bird who would eat anything he could get his beak on. One of his fav tricks was to perch on the door frame and crap on my grandmothers head each time she walked past, simply because she yelled at him once. He would also fill the upturned light into his little treasure trove, lots of missing jewellery etc up there lol....He got out through an open window but stayed in the area the years, often coming to sit on the wall and talk to us...often wonder what became of him :)

[Tony Jordan]

A documentary called Bird Brain (after the misnomer we apply to 'stupid people') showed how smart the corvids are. One raven hid his valuables in plain sight then watched them from afar just to test whom was trustworthy in the aviary he shared with rooks and ravens. I was just ... *open-mouthed* - wow...

[Enchanted-Raven]

They are indeed intelligent creatures, one of my fav birds :)

[Tiana]

I'd be devastated had I seen it. Something I'd probably never forget ... Wonderfully written, Tony

[Tony Jordan]

I need to step back and observe without letting myself 'feel' too deeply about nature at work.
Thank you Tiana :D

[Ken Simm.]

This is more than about ornithological destruction. The power in this is that it can be linked to so many episodes in history, in our lives, in what we fear.
Excellent if frightening work my friend.

[Tony Jordan]

Well spotted Ken.
I did try to rescue a chick from a similar fate a few years back. The nest had been attacked in the eaves and the chick fell into my yard.
I foolishly tried to feed it - not knowing then that it was best left alone. It died after three days and I was devastated - so yeah these things go deeper.

And yet - in the Canaries in February an Eagle grabbed a small rat and flew directly over the beach into the mountains and I was in awe of the bird of prey.

[Ken Simm.]

The ospreys have just returned to the tree over the loch at the bottom of my garden. Been watching them.

[Tony Jordan]

Wow! Must be truly fascinating...An inspiration for many of your poems I know mate.

[barleygirl]

It's hard to watch the cruelty found in nature, especially becuz it reflects the cruelty found in humankind so much of the time. You've painted this with vivid strokes of brevity & clarity. I kinda felt the mother's keening (excellent word choice, among others). Many mother animals are so tortured when their young are lost, yet the carnivores of the world thrive on baby snacks. You've used a great illustration to convey this consistent down-side of life.

[duff]

This is brutal and beautiful Tony. Two sides of the coin in the nature game. Not a whole lot of grey area. A canvas of scenery you have here. Nice work my friend.

[Paul Bell]

Thought Magpies were nice little pairs. That song plays a different tune now.

[Tony Jordan]

Gorgeous birds Paul. Game as f*ck too when it comes to taking on cats but savages to the smaller nesting birds in the near vicinity.
It's almost like they are 'bird-herders' - chasing away the competition so they can get the spoils.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts mate.

[Gee]

Avifaunas hooligans. You would expect no less from a feathered freak wearing an executioners hood. Nature can be as brutal as beautiful.
Evening matey how's life on the Emerald Isle

[Tony Jordan]

They are beautiful assassins. Not averse to assaulting local moggies either - fair play til them - birds with balls - now there's an image to play with lmao.
All good here Gee, mate. Good to see ya!
Yourself?

[Gee]

All is well thanks. Watching the Manc derby willing on the blue half

[Tony Jordan]

Haha - I hope you've got the Liam Gallagher swagger going on.
Youse have done well yourselves this season - YNWA Gee.

[Gee]

They're like pre eclampsia feet, you just know they're gonna blow up

[Tony Jordan]

Haha - Holy s**t. Googled those trotters. Feel the fresh cream roll coming back up...

[Gee]

Lol.........

[Pete]

like the loaded wording in this. you created such a keen sense of drama. you took us on an episode of CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) ...

[FJ Davis]

Powerful portrayal, Tony!--almost a metaphor.
Nature ain't kind.

[emmajoy]

The natural world can be so beautiful, just as this planet can be. But look how both are so often, too often: the grab and greed, inevitably for survival but always, always leaving the resultant carnage. Have seen similar, Tony.. it's heartbreaking, even if one knows it's how it is.
What did whoever that 'whoever' say, 'To understand the wonder of life one must see the horror of death.. '

Fine and sincere writing, carefully displayed. Sad for you, truly am. But sadder for those tiny parents..