The Trojan Magpie
The Trojan Magpie
The Trojan Magpie seemed genuine enough–
it flew on wings of jet and tail of white;
with caw and screech both querulously bluff,
cocked eyes that could look cellophanely bright.
Yes, it hoarded gilt, shine, profane gaud,
and greeted perceived rot with greedy cry
yet no bird heart was held by this mag fraud
nor knowledge of the shape of earth or sky.
What the Trojan knew was how to pick a current,
and how to turn hot air into let wind,
how to preen itself and also the abhorrent,
as it unloosed the menace stashed within.
*************************************
Sort of poem for Mama Zen’s prompt on Real Toads to post a poem to certain designated pics, with a sense of the bruised heart of the world. The above is Big Raven, by Emily Carr (1931). MZ asks us to keep to 60 words; I’ve gone a bit over here. (I think the prompt also wanted something beautiful–I’m afraid I went for the bruising here and not the beautiful.)
On a happier note, I am very pleased to report that my new book DOGSPELL or Sally & Seemore & the Meaning of Mushki is out! It is a sweet (I think) children’s novel, written (with some help from my dear departed Pearl) and much illustrated by me. Great for any dog lover. Available on Amazon. When at Amazon, check out my other books! 1 Mississippi, Going on Somewhere, Nose Dive, and Nice.
Tags: Agh what are we coming to poem, Couldn't make it work with Raven poem, Dogspell, manicddaily, The Trojan Magpie
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ManicDDaily 
July 15, 2016 at 11:34 pm
I felt this way about a job I once had and still have nightmares about it. I was at NASA and at the end of Skylab they no longer needed Flight Director people so they had me writing computer programs for the Space Station flight vehicle instrumentation. I left the program before I finished my program, I still wonder as times if the part that I had written would work or if it all was a fake.
..
July 16, 2016 at 6:39 am
Yes, the bruising and the twisty nature of our human interactions large and small has been all too apparent of late, exhoed so clearly here–this lives up to the ominous unreality, or perhaps super-reality, of the image. Congratulations on the book!
July 16, 2016 at 8:57 am
I love everything about this poem – such a unique response to the raven image… the trojan, that sense of duplicity and sinister purpose. Really exceptionally well done.
July 16, 2016 at 11:53 am
This is beautifully done, K. Naturally, my mind went straight to current politics.
Congratulations on the book!
July 16, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Yes, that was the intent. Thanks for the wonderful prompt and thanks for the good wishes. (And your own wonderful poem.) k.
July 16, 2016 at 1:02 pm
I see the politics too. It’s a worry isn’t it.
Anna :o]
July 16, 2016 at 5:34 pm
A lot ostensibly seemed real and sincere but cloaked under political jargon most times. The same all over in politics. Bruising and beautiful take K!
Hank