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~.

32 comments:

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

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

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

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  9. Hi Eric

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

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  10. Hi David

    Thank you. I am mesmerized by them as well.

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

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  16. Hi Sal

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

    Blessings, V.

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

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

    Blessings,

    Victoria

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  25. 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. 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. 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. 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. Hi Victoria

    Thankyou. I'm glad I listened as well.

    Blessings, V.

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  30. Hi Justine

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

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  31. 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. 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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