Dakota Territory

by Sharon Hilberer

In a land-locked county
in southern Minnesota
seagulls flicker up
from stubble fields.
           So much whiteness.

Crows Cry Bloody Murder

by Sharon Hilberer
 
We
don’t 
know why
they mob up like this.
In winter, Minneapolis 
watches them stream in. They know things that we just don’t know.
 
One
flock—
thousands
of corvids
send out an alarm.
All night they shivered in the trees;
are they screaming to heaven that it’s TOO FREAKIN’ COLD!?
 
Flock-
mind
senses
magnetic
currents: Disturbance
everywhere. Interpret tremors,
taste atmosphere, survey far horizons for danger.
 
Close- 
by.
Upset.
They’re agitated!
Full-throated caws. Caw! Caw!! Caw!!! CAW!!!!
Urgent birds. It’s a Hitchcock thing, and we’re surrounded!
 
 
Pre-
dawn
racket:
jagged cries
shatter closed windows
with sharp shards of raucous ranting:
Rouse yourselves now, people—the planet is on fire!