Apparently, it happened,
That one fine day…he did receive;
An invitation for a family reunion,
Now, I know…you find that hard to believe.

Well, it happened…none the less,
And, bless his heart…he wanted to go;
Although it was many miles away,
And…he knew his flying had become quite slow.

But, he figured that he could attend,
If…indeed…he started a week early;
He had no bags to pack…you know,
He would travel light…that most certainly.

Bright and early…one morning,
He waved his wing…to me…in a “Good-bye”;
And, there he went…Yes, he was ‘off’,
First he circled overheard…then off, into the sky.

He would have many tales to tell,
When at last…he would return;
I knew that he’d have a good time there,
To see his family again…he had yearned.

So many new cousins,
Well, at least four or five…each year;
He had missed them so very much,
Just thinking of them…brought many a tear.

As he was to tell me…later,
He arrived in just six days;
The weather had been good for flying,
And, he had a good time…along the way.

There was a lot of food to eat…as he traveled,
It was plentiful…out there in the wild;
Clear water to drink…a place to rest,
This time of the year…the weather was mild.

All his relatives were to meet at “Wilson’s Creek”,
And, he was nearly there;
My…how his heart beat faster and faster,
Then, he saw them…they were everywhere!

There must have been a hundred crows,
All different sizes and shapes;
Some were as old as he…a lot were younger,
My goodness…they covered the entire landscape!

The ‘landing’ was smooth,
They all watched him…as he descended;
“Caw…caw…caw”…everyone talked at once,
He got so excited…he almost got up-ended!

There was his brother Bill…two years younger,
He quickly introduced his family;
His wife…his children…grandchildren,
From the oldest…way down to the newest baby.

And, who was this…over yonder,
Why…she had changed so very much;
It was Petey’s sister…Mary Jayne,
She flooded him with tears…as their beaks did touch.

Yes, there were cousins by the dozen,
And…so many nephews and many a niece;
Oh, an aunt or two, three, or four…and uncles,
My goodness…their family had such an increase!

To remember all their names…impossible.
So, Petey didn’t even try;
It was enough to know that they were ‘family’,
And, the resemblance…nobody could possibly deny!

A feast had been prepared…days before,
Now, they all sat down to eat;
The ‘family’ was so excited,
But, still…they enjoyed all those special treats.

There was singing and even dancing,
And, it carried-on late into the night;
Such a happy bunch of crows…had gathered,
It was such a spectacle…Yes, they were such a sight!

Well, so many had traveled…for so long,
That each one needed a good rest;
So, they stayed right there…at “Wilson’s Creek”,
For which…all the neighborhood…could attest!

"Why…were there so many crows,
And just…why had they all come?”
Farmer Fred and his brother Frank,
Asked each other…“Where had they all come from?”

Of course, they never thought of a reunion,
Why…only ‘people’ had those…didn’t they?
Well, I guess both of them soon learned differently,
Because…they just didn’t go away!

Even good things must come to an end,
And, the Crow Family…said their “Good-byes”;
Each one flying off…in a different direction,
Each one circling around just once…in the sky.

Well, Petey…my friend made it safely back home,
And, such a story…he had to tell;
He went on and on and on…for days,
PETEY’S REUNION…and later, their “Farewells”.

********

November 22, 2004

Aimee Love
(LHG)