Another poem about crows, but this time the more endearing rook variety.

Helen B Cruickshank uses the imagery of American politics to describe her noisy Scottish rookery. The piece comes from her Collected Poems, published by Reprographia in 1971. Cruickshank (1886-1975) is often bracketed with two other impressive East-Coast women poets, Marion Angus (1866-1946) and Violet Jacob (1863-1946).

CAWS AND CAUCUSES

I

In elm-trees nou the craws are thrang

Wi' gab and bicker up abune,

But eident to their darg they gang

In elm-trees. Nou the craws are thrang

And fine I thole their raucous sang

For timely aa their biggin's dune

In elm-trees nou. The craws are thrang

Wi' gab and bicker up abune.

II

In congresses the chosen gang

Wi' gab and bicker never dune.

Hech! sic a sair aff-pittin' thrang

In congresses! The chosen gang

Will ne'er agree to psalm or sang,

Or whilk precentor caas the tune

In congresses. The chosen gang

Wi' gab and bicker never done.