Joe The Crow

When I was a child
We bird-sat a crow named Joe
His real name unknown
Except to other crows

Uncle Bob left him with us
For a couple of years
While he was deployed to Japan
Though mom wasn’t a fan

Joe could imitate her dog-call
By name and whistle
Crows can imitate sounds
And words, make you bristle

Before Joe, we sat Bob’s
Mynah bird, who swore
Like a sailor offshore
But Bob was career Air Force

The bird’s bawdy talk
Reddened mom’s face
When friends or church elders
Noted his lack of grace

–LE – 7/3/24