Happy Birthday, Rainbow Crow!

"Noah's Crow"

Hello, Poetry Friend

Hooray! It’s National Poetry Month! It’s also Happy Birthday month for my picture book of children’s poetry, Rainbow Crow. Welcome to toddlerhood, 2-year-old!

Last April I missed this very important book birthday because I was celebrating at the Crossroads, an art show at the junction of painting and poetry. But that collaboration resulted in more crow art to go with the crow poetry. Nan Henke painted her own versions of three poems from the book: “Rainbow Crow,” “Definitions” (which Nan turned into a notecard), and “Blinded,” which my husband purchased and which now hangs in our breakfast nook.

art by Nan Henke

This month I’d like to share a few of the poems that were not in the Crossroads show. Let’s start with "Noah's Crow," which imagines what might have happened if ol' Noah had released a crow from the ark.

Thank you, TS Poetry Press, for finding a place for 17 of these feathered poems, especially the ones that make us smile. Even after our entire world has been flooded.

Noah’s Crow

Rainbow Crow Some say a raven scouted land,
proceeding from old Noah’s hand.
The raven flew both far and near
but never did return. Oh, dear.

Then Noah sent a soft white dove
who picked an olive branch with love.
When Noah sent her out again
she stayed to rest. The flood did end.

But if instead he’d sent a crow
to look for land, both high and low,
that crafty bird, so sly and wily,
would have returned with poison ivy.

Megan Willome

Happy poeming!

Megan