Friday, February 4, 2011

Cemetary Crows














My last post was about the mournfulness of the cemetary at sunset. But in fact it is full of life most of the time. But not human life. There are many other living creatures to be found in the local cemetaries, and here are the most constant residents. The crows. All of the cemetaries around here are full of crows at all hours. In my second picture, the crow is actually sitting on a headstone that says "Crowe". The crow in the last picture refreshes himself by drinking from the flower vase. Edgar Alan Poe lived in this area, and I wonder if this is what he saw when he wrote his famous poem "The Raven". Perhaps this is why he chose this bird as a symbol of death and grieving over all others. I don't know why the crows like to hang out here so much. If you do, please let me know. Perhaps they are just mourning with those who mourn.



"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." Romans 12:16


















30 comments:

Regina said...

Do you think there is something kind of errie about them? What a neat header this makes! I for one, think they are smart, but they give me that feeling..like an omen. Anyway..I've followed you to the cemetery again (lol). Now I have to ask how you found that terrific shot with the crow above the name like that!? Very cool..and the turkey sips out of the vase! What an intriguing bit of information as well-
Oh..ya, you could say I made myself nice and sick with those oysters! It's happened with shrimp on a few occasions but I love it (shrimp).

Arti said...

Never been inside a cemetery... Kind of spooks me and looks scary!!
And dont know about the crows...
This post gave me a good view of the place that I am sacred of...
Have a good weekend:)

Rachel Cotterill said...

Great pics - I love the one with the Crowe headstone, how long did you have to wait to catch him sitting there? :)

MadSnapper said...

ginny these are really really wonderful shot. i love love love them. my most favorite is the first one with the flag, really a super shot and the last with the drinking from the vase is sooo funny. i will have to check out some of our cemetarys, we have tons of crows but have not been to a cemetary in along time, they are not on my route. most of ours have no trees in them so maybe not

MadSnapper said...

i had to google this

What is the significance of a crow at a cemetery?



No matter where a crow shows up Native American Indians consider crows a good omen;

Guardians of the place before existance

Ability to move in space and time.

Carrier of souls from darkness into light.

Working without fear in darkness.

Guidance while working in shadow.

Moves freely in the void.

Understands all things related to ethics



Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_significance_of_a_crow_at_a_cemetery#ixzz1D5H3aXC6

Nature Rambles said...

Your pictures made me think of a cemetery in way that's unrelated to only the dead. I would have googled too but after reading Sandra's comment, I'm glad I know about the relation. Interesting. Crow on Crowe was good!

Fred Alton said...

Thanks for this post. As many times as I have visited graveyards, this is the first time I've given a second thought to the crows that one can see there. It was exceptional that you captured a picture of one sitting on Mr. Crowe's headstone. ...mmm... or maybe that was Mrs. Crowe! I loved Edgar Allen Poe's "Once upon a midnight dreary...while I pondered weak and weary..." poem.

From the Kitchen said...

Poe is one of my favorite poets and I love his eerie writings. You, Phil and the GPS should head up to Baltimore and visit his grave. The cemetery is exactly as one would imagine it to be. I'm sure he must have run into the "Raven" at a cemetery!! Great capture of the crow on Crowe.

Best,
Bonnie

RoeH said...

We don't have crows here in the desert. But once you go into the city limits of Flagstaff, they are all over. And they have no fear of humans, either. And they're BIG! A lot of people don't like them but I do. I find most anything in nature is very interesting ... each in its own way.

Except rats. :(

Tracy said...

Wow, what great photos; particularly the one with the crow on the Crowe headstone. I liked Sandra's comments about the sgnificance of the crows at the cemetary; fascinating!
thanks for a great post this morning! Hurray, it's SATURDAY!!!
great news for a teacher :)

Reanaclaire said...

Crows are supposed to be quite eerie, yes? last time one of my frens told me that if a crow cries, it means someone is going to die.. that is scary...

Nikki (Sarah) said...

this is so cool...what a great idea to capture these black crows in the cemetary. loved it.

Anonymous said...

Hi Ginny, It is quite hard to get nice photographs of Crows and you have done so! Your pictures are sharp, interesting and detailed! Good job! I too, like the Crows! Have a great day!

Mary Bergfeld said...

More wonderful photos, Ginny. You capture things the rest of us don't even see. The cane was a piece of leftover wood that had been used for bracing. The added additional blocks, some original artwork and lots of glitter to the cane. It really was funny. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Blessings...MAry

Karin said...

Interesting photos of life at the cemetery! They must all come to visit their human namesake and pay their respects. We have dear friends in Massachusetts with the last name CROWE! Further north from here where our daughter lived for a few years, I got to also see ravens (which I at first thought were crows!) - wow, they are huge - more the size of hawks!

DawnTreader said...

Oh I'm impressed with that picture of the crow on top of the headstone with the name Crowe! I never thought of crows being especially common in cemeteries. I'm not sure if our crows are the same species that you have over there either. Both crows and magpies are quite common around here though. I guess one also sees them a lot because they're big and not very shy of people. Maybe that is also the reason why people think that they are common in the cemeteries - because they don't hide.

Joyful said...

I like your scripture verse today. The weather in your photo looks divine. I could use some warmth from a summer sun right about now. I like how you've captured the raven on the headstones too.

Deborah said...

I have always thought that when you see crows in your yard that means your relatives are visiting...That must be an old New England wives tale.
Great pictures. The the sunset on is too. I LOVE the big bubbles. They are very pretty! I mailed your cards today. I am off to Grand Cayman tomorrow. But I will be blogging from there! :)
xxoo
Deborah

George said...

Your picture of the crow on the Crowe headstone is a tremendous capture. I've never thought of there being an unusual number of crows at cemeteries, so now you've given me something to think about.

Stephanie V said...

Great photo of the crow choosing it's namesake's stone to light on. You didn't have to put food there, did you? We have so many crows everywhere here that I've never noticed if there are more at the cemeteries.
In the morning they commute in great flocks from their roosts about 20 miles away. In the evening they commute back. Just like regular workers.

Ann said...

I love the shot of the crow sitting on the headstone with the name Crowe. I was reading Sandra's comment about what she found about the crows. Very interesting

Remington said...

Great shots! I also like the one with the crow on the headstone that says Crowe. Very good, my friend!

S. Etole said...

They bring a sort of darkness, don't they?

Chatty Crone said...

Kind of hit home today -

Must have taken these on a nice summer day . . .

sandie

SquirrelQueen said...

The crow on Crowe is an amazing shot and I love your header.

Ravens are mentioned repeatedly in the folklore of the peoples of the First Nation. I posted one story about How the Raven Stole the Sun on my blog a year or so ago. Like the information Sandra found they are usually good luck. Ravens and crows are highly intelligent.

I would assume the crows are in the cemetery because food is plentiful.

Velvet Over Steel said...

I didn't realize or notice that crows hang out in cenetaries. But of course they would.. I see them everywhere else.

Hope your having a wonderful & warm weekend!!

LC said...

Loved your lively cemetery photos especially the patriotic crow, crow on Crowe and the big dipper crow. I just posted on a New Orleans cemetery we visited today. Your cemetery seems really cheerful compared to the NOLA one! Have a blessed Sunday.

Neal said...

I had to chuckle when I saw your picture of a crow sitting on the Crowe headstone. :)

srp said...

How long did you have to stand there before a crow landed on the Crowe headstone? That is an amazing capture!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Wonderful photos, Ginny! I also enjoyed the prior post. I do volunteer research work at a local historical cemetery so I also enjoy wandering around them.

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