Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE AVENGED CROW, by GEORGE MURRAY (1830-1910)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE AVENGED CROW, by                    
First Line: You have all heard the tale of the fox and the crow
Last Line: "in return, he lies there, carried off by disease!"
Subject(s): Birds; Crows; Death; Foxes; Revenge; Story-telling; Dead, The


You have all heard the tale of the Fox and the Crow,
But the sequel, I fancy, that few people know:
Permit me to tell the "dénouement," for I
Was a witness, alas! of poor Renard's last sigh.

His Papa, his Mamma, and the nearest of kin
Who kissed his cold muzzle were filled with chagrin,
When the doctor (called in to determine the question)
Pronounced his death caused by severe indigestion!

"My Friends," said Papa, "this deplorable case
Will brand us, I fear, as a gluttonous race;
'Twill be said this dear child, whom we idolized so,
Died from eating the cheese of that imbecile Crow."

All groaned at these words. The dead "gourmand" next morn
In a hearse with white plumes to the grave-yard was borne:
The Foxes in black—some three hundred in all—
Walked two and two, chanting the "Dead March" in "Saul."

When they stood round the pit, they again groaned aloud,
And the Mayor made a heart-rending speech to the crowd:
What he said I don't know—but of this there's no doubt
That each Fox held a handkerchief up to his snout.

Just then Madam Crow (Perched hard by on a tree)
Croaked "Renard is dead! What a grand day for me!
He sneered at my singing, and pilfered my cheese—
In return, he lies there, carried off by disease!"





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