Thursday, October 13, 2011

Rhyme of the Raven



"One is for sorrow,
two for mirth,
three for a wedding,
four for birth,
five for rich,
six for poor,
Seven for a witch,
I can tell you no more."




I was going to blog about something else today but the Crow outside was cawing at me to blog about this old divination rhyme. He wouldn't shut up until I dug out my copy of The Beltane Papers with this rhyme in it. As soon as I started typing he flew away. I'm sure he was thinking "It's about time, my voice is going hoarse cawing at you." Listen to the Crows And Ravens today, they may have a message for you.


rhyme found in The Dictionary of Superstitions, Oxford University Press, 1992
and in Issue 47 of The Beltane Papers

first image found ~here~.

second image found ~here~.

Posted by at

32 comments:

  1. Robin LarkspurOctober 13, 2011 at 6:06 AM

    Great poem! Those crows can be very persistent! I am glad you listened to him.

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  2. Vivienne MossOctober 13, 2011 at 6:09 AM

    Hi Robin

    Thanks, I'm glad I listened as well. There was only one so I was afraid that if I didn't listen He would make me "sorry".

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  3. wicKEDOctober 13, 2011 at 6:32 AM

    wicKED poem. There are at least 30 crows that hang around my yard every morning. Wish I could convince them to stay Halloween night and scare TOTs with me.

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  4. Vivienne MossOctober 13, 2011 at 6:35 AM

    Hi wicKED

    Thank you. That would be wicked if they would hang out with you on Halloween. Try bribing them with raw meat, I hear they like that sort of thing.

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  5. BubbaOctober 13, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    In the past ten years I've noticed a preponderance of crows and ravens being used in movies as harbingers of doom. It's an old film device, based on on even older mythology, but still effective.

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  6. Vivienne MossOctober 13, 2011 at 6:52 AM

    Hi Eric

    Yes, they have been used in movies as harbringers of doom a lot. I find them to be great messengers if you just have the 'ears' to 'listen'.

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  7. BubbaOctober 13, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    I can certainly attest to their nature as forest tattle-tales. (Along with those little red squirrels)

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  8. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 7:50 AM

    I am always mesmerized by the crow...such splendor....amazing poem

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  9. Vivienne MossOctober 13, 2011 at 7:50 AM

    Hi Eric

    My husband, a hunter, can attest to that as well.

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  10. Vivienne MossOctober 13, 2011 at 7:52 AM

    Hi David

    Thank you. I am mesmerized by them as well.

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  11. Magic Love CrowOctober 13, 2011 at 8:53 AM

    Love the poem and love the pictures!!! Thanks for making my morning! Those crows do talk loud, don't they ;o) Blessings my friend ;o)

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  12. Vivienne MossOctober 13, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    Hi Magic Love Crow

    I had a feeling you would like this one. LOL.
    The can be very loud and clear at times, but I love to hear them.

    Blessings my friend, V.

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  13. Julie FergusonOctober 13, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    Haha, crows seem to be pushy little feathered friends. It definitely had a message for you. Nice poem, I am sure it would have loved it.

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  14. Vivienne MossOctober 13, 2011 at 9:03 AM

    Hi Adsila

    Pushy is a nice way of saying it. My youngest daughter swears they sometimes laugh at her. She thinks it's pretty cool when they do.

    I'm sure he would have loved it as well.

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  15. Sal October 13, 2011 at 11:13 AM

    Crows and ravens are very special to me, too.
    Thanks for sharing!

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  16. Vivienne MossOctober 13, 2011 at 11:59 AM

    Hi Sal

    It's always nice to know fellow lovers od crows and ravens.

    Blessings, V.

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  17. The Artful Gypsy aka Wendy the Very Good WitchOctober 13, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    LOVE THIS! They had been hanging around my back yard before I left for vacation too. Just returned and they were out there squawking again! They obviously have lots to say! :o)

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  18. Vivienne MossOctober 13, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    Hi Wendy

    I have missed you!! I'm so happy you're back. And yes, the crows seem to have a lot to squawk about.

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  19. Elle J RossiOctober 13, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    I see crows/ravens quite often. Many times I wonder if they're following me. So mysterious, so dark. They always, always make me take a moment to think.

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  20. Vivienne MossOctober 13, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    Hi Elle

    I feel as if they follow me at times as well. I like that they are mysterious,dark creatures.

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  21. Little Gothic HorrorsOctober 13, 2011 at 3:54 PM

    Beautiful crow images. I have crows sitting in the trees outside my window right now. Even though we're on opposite sides of the globe, and your trees are turning red and gold, whilst ours are turning green, or are covered with fluffy pink blossoms, we're all connected by the crows!

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  22. ornamentsbypinkOctober 13, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    I like your pictures.
    I have crows in my home (not real ones).

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  23. Dr. ThedaOctober 13, 2011 at 6:23 PM

    I really like the Poem Crows are ok ...I like Ravens (Large Black Birds)(But nowhere near as large as the Many turkey buzzards that are in my town....)

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  24. VictoriaOctober 13, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Love the photos and the rhyme...I'm glad you listened to the crow!

    Blessings,

    Victoria

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  25. Justine’s HalloweenOctober 13, 2011 at 6:52 PM

    Perfect timing for this! I was just finishing putting little witch hats on the crows today. :) I just love crows and that was a great poem too!

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  26. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 11:25 PM

    Your crow story made me smile and I'm so glad you listened to him--an interesting poem and such lovely birds! One of my fondest wishes is to one day see a Hawaiian crow ('Alala).

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  27. Vivienne MossOctober 14, 2011 at 5:04 AM

    Hi Little Gothic Horrors

    I love that we can both share the beauty of crows even though we are on opposite sides of the world and are experiencing different seasons. Enjoy the pink blossoms.

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  28. Vivienne MossOctober 14, 2011 at 5:05 AM

    Hi ornamentsbypink

    Thankyou. I would love to have a real crow or raven. I hear they make wonderful companion birds and can learn how to speak.

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  29. Vivienne MossOctober 14, 2011 at 5:07 AM

    Hi Victoria

    Thankyou. I'm glad I listened as well.

    Blessings, V.

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  30. Vivienne MossOctober 14, 2011 at 5:08 AM

    Hi Justine

    Thank you. I love your little witchy crows. So cute and magical.

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  31. Vivienne MossOctober 14, 2011 at 5:09 AM

    Hi Dr. Theda

    I hope you are doing well. We have those large turkey buzzards here as well. I like how they just seem to glide through the sky effortlessly.

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  32. Vivienne MossOctober 14, 2011 at 5:15 AM

    Hi Aurouran Lauriel

    Good to hear that my crow story made you smile, thank you. I looked at a picture of a Hawaiian Crow. Oh my. they are so beautiful with the teal tint to their feathers. Thank you for sharing your wish.

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