S8E5: "Old Adam, the Carrion Crow" by Thomas Beddoes

The Well Read Poem

In this eighth season of The Well Read Poem, we are reading six poems about birds. Since antiquity, birds have supplied rich material to poets, being by turns regal, charming, absurd, delicate, dangerous, and philosophical creatures. This season is dedicated to the animal lovers in our audience, particularly to Emily Raible who suggested the subject in the first place.

Today's poem is "Old Adam, the Carrion Crow" by Thomas Beddoes. Poem begins at timestamp 7:00.

"Old Adam, the Carrion Crow"

by Thomas Beddoes

Old Adam, the carrion crow, The old crow of Cairo; He sat in the shower, and let it flow Under his tail and over his crest; And through every feather Leak'd the wet weather; And the bough swung under his nest; For his beak it was heavy with marrow. Is that the wind dying? O no; It's only two devils, that blow, Through a murderer's bones, to and fro, In the ghosts' moonshine. Ho! Eve, my grey carrion wife, When we have supped on king's marrow, Where shall we drink and make merry our life? Our nest it is queen Cleopatra's skull, 'Tis cloven and crack'd, And batter'd and hack'd, But with tears of blue eyes it is full: Let us drink then, my raven of Cairo! Is that the wind dying? O no; It's only two devils, that blow Through a murderer's bones, to and fro, In the ghosts' moonshine.