A Group of Grackles 

A poem by Ramona Aarsvold

A group of grackles gathered, squawking

Atop the trees and all are talking.

With their many beady eyes,

And mouths speaking truth or lies

Believed,

Received.

Each tries to get their time

With eyes of yellow-lime.

None had a good-enough mother,

So go in search of another.

True love is only true in your mind.

You will not find it here,

My dear.

Great tails swishing, in the breeze.

I want to speak now, if you please.

No, after me, and after me, too!

No wonder mother gave up on you.

I’m going home hungry,

and you will, too.

Just what is a mother to do?

About the Author

"This poem was inspired by my love of the noisy great tailed grackle and my experience of being in a large group of mostly other therapists where we often feel it is difficult to get space to talk.”

Ramona Aarsvold, Ph. D. is a graduate of the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Texas who has been in private practice in Austin for 35 years, treating adults and adolescents in individual, group, and couple therapy. She has trained in Modern Analytic psychotherapy, and Gottman couple therapy. She is a devoted mother who also enjoys cooking, reading, writing, singing, and walking with her dog.