Jackdaws

Surely, chimneys were primarily constructed for Jackdaws!
Although it is said, they are so smart and flexi
as to commute or select rural habitats as much as urban;
field, farm and woodland providing pickings of shiny pebbles, snail and nut shells
along with ciggy ends, dropped coins and bottle tops.

Their reputation for perennial thievery is barely fair
when they are professional evaluators of all things sparkly
and constitute handy rubbish collectors too.
That perspicacious silver eye
Is not just able to spot covert assets
but can interpret the direction of a human gaze – as well as intent,
even study its own reflection;
proven to plan ahead and work things out
(none of that Bodhi-nowness-only for them!)
called cunning opportunists by some, by others, ingenious.

Gregarious party creatures, their raves and get-togethers
are raucous and purposeful.
I once witnessed them mob a fat tom cat stalking an ignorant juvenile, engrossed with glitzy treasure, roadside.
And, heavens, what chimney-sweeping reveals!
- decades of their detritus,
their hoard of lovely loot:
trophy chicken bones, orange peel, foil, screws and ribbons
-Europe’s very own bower-birds-
descending like manna from their twiggy palaces above.

The weatherman and stock-marketer have yet to recognize
the archive of their mythic symbolism and associations
of prophecy, doom, rebirth.
While, if that all-seeing eye is paley watching you
beware, my friend!
Check your buttons, wallet, bracelet clasp
for the fellow is on-track, with every trick of his trade
to discern your direction, distract you and nab
that fallen ring, or loose hair clip in a jiffy.

Or
see yourself as sponsor of his architectural prowess
his decorative, home-designing devotions!