They drove down from some mega church in Kansas with signs reading, “God hates grackles,” and “Grackles spread disease & crap on everything.” One little girl with blond pigtails tied with blue ribbons carried a sign saying, “No more icky turds.” They marched up and down the street outside the capitol chanting verses from Leviticus about unclean birds, occasionally stopping to extol the virtues of godly American fried chicken and turkey club sandwiches. From their trees, the grackles watched with little interest. They heard the repetitive nuk-nuk-nuk of the chanters and wondered at the rusty-hinge noises they made on the street below but mostly, they preened their shiny purple feathers and craned their necks toward the open sky above.
This went on for most of the afternoon and as the heat increased, the protesters grew more desperate, more willing to go beyond the veil of free speech. One man cast a stone. There was a moment’s pause as the world waited for the grackles to craft a response. Seconds grew to minutes, and the protesters glanced at one another, nervous, waiting. Suddenly all the grackles exploded skyward in a storm of wings and wild hallelujahs. The protesters watched with squinted eyes as the birds flew ever higher, each beat of their dark wings carrying them deeper into the sky and closer to God than anyone on the street below could imagine.
Blinded by the summer sky into which the grackles had disappeared, the protesters fumbled for their signs, packed them back on the bus, cursing the ugly grackles for their filthy ways and for not being blue birds or cardinals. Resentful and wishing that they too had wings and beautiful iridescent plumage, they drove back north, never once leaving the ground.
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“God Hates Grackles” was one of 3 poems originally published at Thirteen Myna Birds in July 2009. Poems don’t stick around long over there before they fly away, so I’m posting them here for those who may have missed them back in July. This is 1 of 3.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
Yes, I missed this when it was up over there. I am glad you posted it here. I love grackles.
Thanks, Dana, I’m a grackle fan too. They’re such beautiful birds if you take the time to really look at them. Of course, I’m glad I don’t have 1000 of them in the trees in my backyard :).
Interesting poem…and I am not fond of grackles…
My dog would say they’re an acquired taste. He would know.
I put a fairly open feeder, made of cedar, complete with suet block holders on both ends, filled with black oil sunflower seeds on a hook hanging off the back deck late last spring. Next to it, I put up a finch feeder.
I was amazed at two things. How fast finches found the thistle, and how quickly we were overrun with grackles to the exclusion of everything else.
One caged feeder, another hook and some safflower seeds later, we now have an abundance of finches, juncos, titmouse’s, cardinals, woodpeckers…and no grackles.
Blue Jays and Mourning Doves come around from time to time, which adds nicely to the variety.
I’m always amazed by how fast birds show up, though it took me 2 years moving the finch feeder around before it drew any finches. When I put in on the porch, they were there within days. I tried moving it a few weeks ago and they quit coming. After a week or so I moved it back and they returned.
I wish I could get woodpeckers to come around. Every once in a while they do.
The grackles only come around between April and August and I’ve never seen more than 7 or 8 in the yard. In small numbers, they’re generally not feeder pests. As I suggested in my reply to Dana, I’d probably have a different opinion of them if they came in giant flocks 🙂
James!
First, out of curiosity, from where did you cross post your comment at my blog?
Second (and most importantly), you just made my day!
You are a damned fine poet! And you have something to say. This prose poem is like a little fable.
I’ve got more to say… and I look forward to reading more of your work.
Patrick, thanks for your kind words regarding my work. I think you made my day! I look forward to exploring your site and reading your work as well.
I came to your site via Dana’s post at my gorgeous somewhere.
[…] July. This is 3 of 3. It has been slightly modified from its original form. The others can be found here and […]