Author's Note: I know I should be writing Meet the Family, but I couldn't get this out of my head! I had the overwhelming urge to write a poem, and this is what I wound up with. I hopes you like!
Nine Birds
Nine birds all flew together in a row:
Four sparrows, two eagles, a raven, a thrush, and a wise old crow
The raven took two sparrows under his wings
And he taught them to fight, among other things
The other two sparrows kept mostly to themselves,
Sitting quietly together like ornaments upon shelves
The two eagles were the best of friends
One would follow the other to whatever end
The thrush pulled the older eagle's feathers day and night,
Yet one day they suddenly ceased to fight
The wise old crow was always in the lead
He always did his best to fulfill the others' needs
One day, the birds took a shortcut through a cave
The wise old crow never emerged into the day
Eight birds now remained to rest
In a colony of eagles' eyries and nests
Down, down the river they flew,
In two sets of three and one of two
The raven's mind was overthrown and he chased away a sparrow
When he knew what he had done, he hid his head in sorrow
To redeem himself, he fought against the condors
But the battle was lost, two sparrows taken, and he at Death's door
The two quiet sparrows left on a silent pact:
They and they alone would perform the deadly act
The two eagles and the thrush began after the condors
Three mighty hunters who would aid the foes of Mordor