By Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris
dVerse Poets Pub
Poetics: Corvid Poetry
Whiskey Jack you look so sad tonight
not so brilliant blue or famous
as your cousin the striking Blue Jay
Your lamented caw so far out west
calling for family you will never meet
Cousins all well known just not you
Norway to Russia they will live
Revered in Tibet but not gray like you
You wear the color of the Rockies
Listen carefully and you can hear whispers of John Denver singing
Rocky Mountain High with you
Should your habitat be burned
damaged or destroyed by man
You do not fly and you do not flee
Little Gray Jay of Whisky fame
your smart family starts all over again
Foraging for sticks rocks and food
A spirit bird in Canada you are
called Whisky Jack or wiskachaan
by the Indigenous Algonquian
Mimicking other prey birds you
keep danger at bay or sing a sweet
lullaby just to pass the time by
Gray Jay do not be sad this day
other Jay’s can not use their feet
to quickly snatch all silvery things!
Gypsie’s Wonderful World of Words 
A corvid I had not heard of … but I do know the Siberian Jay which I think might be related…
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Lovely write, Ami! Had not heard about Whisky Jack before. Interesting….😊
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You are so kind and I thank you very much. ☺️
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😊
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Very beautifully written, and the history of the jay is so very interesting! Well done!
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You are so sweet, I thank you most kindly! 😊
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You are welcome, Ami! I enjoyed it.
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You are most welcome Sunra! He’s not in my area, but I came across him accidentally on the Audubon site and started reading about him!
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What a lovely read, Ami. Thank you for teaching me about this clever little bird! I’ve neevr heard of Whisky Jack before 🙂
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You are most welcome. They are remarkable and unique birds. They mimic the call of the large birds of prey to keep predators away. They eat like birds of prey too, ripping and tearing their food instead of pecking at it. Unlike the other Corvid’s, they also use their feet (again like the bigger birds) to carry things – food, sticks, rocks, etc. I think they are pretty birds! 😊
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Thank you for introducing me to a new type of corvid!
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Also love it! Thanks for sharing and the great enjoyment. xx Michael
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Thank you Michael and you are very welcome!! 😊
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you most kindly Rob! 😊
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Excellent and poignant piece, well written.
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