Our last writing assignment for the class was to write a poem inspired by the book The Magician’s Nephew. I chose to write one from the viewpoint of the jackdaw, featured in the glorious creation scene in the book. You might not “get” this poem if you haven’t read the book, but I hope you enjoy it anyway (and please do read all the Chronicles of Narnia). It felt incomplete without an illustration so I did a quick sketch for the occasion.
Darkness, then light
Stillness, then flight
The Singer makes,
The world awakes.
Sweetest singing
Sends me winging
I am Jackdaw
Hear me caw!
His nose to my beak
He is all that I seek
All eyes now on him
We leave our own kin.
His eyes steady burn
Our hearts strangely warm
Then breath like a fire
Soars ever higher
“You trees, be walking!
You beasts, be talking!
All Narnia is yours,
Seas, woods and stars.
I give you yourselves;
I give you myself.
“But on this bright morning
I give you clear warning,
The beasts who don’t speak
You must love and well treat.
Never walk in their ways
Lest your talking shall cease,
And your minds are undone;
You’ll be once again Dumb.”
“Hail Aslan, our King,”
We creatures all sing.
“We hear and obey,”
We gratefully say.
“And when you say ‘don’t’
We will not, we won’t.”
Perky with cheer
I sing out, “No fear!”
At the top of my voice.
(Unfortunate choice.)
Embarrassment deep,
I pretend I’m asleep.
While the others soon after
Erupt into laughter.
But joy upon joys
Aslan blesses the noise.
Humor’s divine,
So jokes are just fine.
I made the first joke!
I’m that kind of bloke!
Oh the stories they’ll tell
(I’ll be known quite well).
But wait, it gets better,
Hold on to your feathers,
For don’t you see?
The first joke was me!
The first joke was me!
I’m filled with glee,
I fall off the horse
But have wings, of course.
I’m flying, I’m happy
I’m funny, I’m flappy
I am Aslan’s Jackdaw
Just hear me caw!
I’ll probably wait for the caw of the jackdaw to delete this…in the morning.
Lynniebeemuseoday 