Coyote and Grandfather Crow

I’ve been thinking a lot more about Tricksters as we get ready for Evil Expo and more Villainy.  One of the beauties of Tricksters is that, while they’re cunning, they’re also fluid; they’re not stuck in the role of either hero or villain.  It’s one of the many things I love about Coyote.

As for Grandfather Crow, well… let’s just say he’s one mythological figure I’d rather not annoy.

~JM

Coyote heard that Odin once

Hung high from the World Tree

to seek the kind of wisdom

Not won easily

Coyote said, “What wisdom!

What things he surely knows!

If I had that much wisdom

I’d outshine Grandfather Crow.”

Coyote heard that Odin, too,

An eye for foresight gave

“And what a wondrous thing!”

he said,

“How marvelous and brave!”

Coyote to the sky he called:

“Grandfather Crow I seek!”

Grandfather crow did then alight

Dark wings and sharp, sharp beak

Coyote said, “Grandfather,

My left eye might you pluck?

And this rope help me tie

So that ’neath this tree I’m stuck?

“For wisdom I must have!”

Grandfather Crow said, “Boy,

You give me a task

That I just might enjoy.”

Grandfather crow flashed out his beak

And out the eye did fall

Coyote screamed, Coyote howled

Coyote he did bawl

Grandfather Crow said, “Only half

Of our work is yet done

Now to hang you from this tree

For eight days and one.”

And grandfather, with cunning rope

Coyote did suspend

From a sturdy branch

That would neither break nor bend.

Nine days did hang Coyote

As from his eye he bled

He screamed and howled and did cajole

He wept and sighed and pled.

But on the ninth day he did grin

“Grandfather, I am done!

Please let me down, that all may see

The wisdom I have won!”

Once on the ground, Coyote

His mouth did open wide

In the hope that wisdom

Would pour out from inside.

But not a word Coyote spoke.

“Grandfather!” he did cry

“I feel not a bit wiser

Though I have lost an eye!

“I am as foolish as I was

Though nine days I did spend

All I know is that I never

Want to do that again.”

Grandfather crow he then did laugh

His voice, it was a purr

“Then, my pup,” the Crow did say,

“You’re wiser than you were.”