A Poem About Crows – Mysterious Birds of Intelligence and Wisdom

Crows have long been revered in Native American folklore, as well as in many other cultures throughout the world. These black-feathered birds carry a sense of mystery, melancholy, and have been seen as omens of death or messengers between worlds. As biology has progressed, we have discovered just how remarkably smart crows are. This poem explores the symbolism of their association with magic, their cunning nature, the trickery they use with their intelligence, and highlights their identity as social creatures despite often mistakenly seen as solitary birds.

The Spiritual Symbolism of Crows in My Poem

Their are numerous meanings and traits that crows are said to symbolize. I can only speak for myself and some of the meaning or motivation for writing this poem. I’m an avid bird lover and nature enthusiast. Despite not being the most decorated bird, crows have such personality that you can’t help but admire how cool they are.

I wouldn’t exactly say they hold a spiritual significance for me as omens or being associated with death, but they do hold deep, personal meaning for me. I’ve struggled with mental illness for all of my adult life. I’ve also always highly valued knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence. In their jet-black feathers I see a creature of darkness but who isn’t nocturnal and strives for the light. I see a bird who uses its intelligence, wisdom, and wit to trick others in their flock because of their jovial nature but also to survive.

Even though they’re mostly seen as symbols of death, I love how much they seem to enjoy life, how much they are like humans and play tricks on each other for laughs or gang up and pester owls during the day while they’re just trying to sleep. As a writer I see crows as symbols of not just intelligence but also of innovation and creativity because they use their brains to solve problems through out-of-the-box solutions. But most of all there’s something about crows that evokes a sense of wonder, some secret they seem to know that you don’t.

Mr. Crow - A Poem on Their Mystery and Intelligence

Mr. Crow, what do you know
that I don't, jabbering, squawking in the morning air?
Are you making sure your friends are aware
of an owl sleeping somewhere near?
Or possibly a dirty trick - 
you cunning, conniving king of magic - 
to lure the others away
so you can get to your secret, shiny prize
sitting on the roadside?
Eyes of charcoal,
feathers darker than the Devil's soul,
Mr. Crow you captivate me
like no other winged wonder.

Justin Farley

What Are Some of the Lessons We Can Learn From Crows?

• Don’t Take Life Too Seriously – Even though crows embody a sense of melancholy and death, they spend so much of their time playing tricks on one another or pestering their neighbors in nature.
• Learn to Adapt – Crows have thrived where other birds have diminished simply because of their ability to adapt to new habitats and change their behaviors in order to survive.
• Appearances Can Be Deceiving – These birds may be small animals, but you would never imagine how smart they are. They are believed to be about as intelligent as a seven year old child!
• Think Outside the Box – By combining both intelligence and creativity, crows have been known to solve some complex problems with ingenious solutions. For example, they have learned to crack open tough nuts by putting them in the pathway of cars and then coming back for the reward.
• Being a Social Creature is Valuable – Another misconception is that these omens of death are solitary birds. Crows are very social creatures and are known to play games and tricks on one another. It is also believed that they are able to pass their wisdom down to younger generations.
• Don’t Let Your Darkness Keep You From the Light – Despite being jet black and ominous, for me crows have always symbolized fighting the good fight and not letting your circumstances or set-backs keep you from striving to transform your life. They are not creatures of the night as you’d expect but birds of the day.

Further Reading For More Nature Based Poetry

This poem is actually featured in Nature’s Bounty – my chapbook of poems about nature. The book celebrates the wilderness and addresses the deep healing and wisdom available to us in nature. Follow the link below if you would like to read more nature-based poems.

Nature’s Bounty – A Chapbook of Poems About Nature by Justin Farley