I've said hello to every crow I've seen, not least because I don't want to anger them. I thought your might like to know that in the Ueno district, where we stayed, all the houses now put their rubbish bags into blue mesh sacks so that the crows can't get them. Humans: 2; Crows: 1; Crows to serve.
The crows here in Kyoto seem to be much better behaved.
You are very wise to stay on the good side of the corvids. Now we just need to sit back and watch as the crows of Ueno find a way through the blue mesh sacks, humanity's latest gambit in this interspecies chess match. 😆
The corvids of Manchester are very noisy and full of beans right now, so the Crow Moon also works for Northern England. Thank you for introducing me to Shiki and the Tokyo crows!
You're very welcome! However boisterous they may be, you should try not to tick off your local corvids. They'll never forget it. (They'll even pass along your bad reputation to the next generation!)
This is so damned beautiful--a delight to be introduced to the Tokyo crows, to Shiki, to dream of streets too narrow for death, with its cart of fire, to reach.
Beautiful message :) it is indeed harder to live peacefully under any condition. The crows have figured out that one has to constantly observe, learn, and be curious but cautious to make life a bit easier !
What a stunning introduction to your writing. I came from Notes - have yet to check out your video - and fell into this journey through place and time. A beautiful first read of the day, thanks Will.
I just found your Substack and I really enjoyed this article. I’m fascinated by Covid’s and I also read and write haiku. I live on the seafront and I love to watch the crows turning over seaweed hunting for morsels. I also love watching moonlight on water, especially from the beach, or occasional night swimming.
Truly beautiful, once again. And once again, I was driving south on Saturday with the moon to my left, which I thought was a full moon and that your newsletter would await me at my destination. Sadly, I was sadly mistaken. But it was worth saving this for my early flight back from the left coast.
Oh my goodness, this piece is beautiful. Forgive me if I find medicinal beauty in the savant-like recall crows have for the human face but can’t quite say why. The narrow streets, the soap luxuries, the reminder of what the crow moon announces, these words, medicinal beauty indeed.
This is beautiful, Will - and it’s very special to read it from Tokyo! I’m off to look for crows.
Wow, so cool! Please give the crows a respectful salute from me.
I've said hello to every crow I've seen, not least because I don't want to anger them. I thought your might like to know that in the Ueno district, where we stayed, all the houses now put their rubbish bags into blue mesh sacks so that the crows can't get them. Humans: 2; Crows: 1; Crows to serve.
The crows here in Kyoto seem to be much better behaved.
You are very wise to stay on the good side of the corvids. Now we just need to sit back and watch as the crows of Ueno find a way through the blue mesh sacks, humanity's latest gambit in this interspecies chess match. 😆
What a lovely,moving piece. I will go to sleep tonight imagining crows writing and reciting poems.
Thank you Gary! If only we could have Zen-like dreams every night.
This is beautiful. I love the idea of crows building dummy nests, nibbling candles and stealing bars of soap as luxury items.
And I love the concept of medicinal beauty. May we all steal as much of it as we can.
Thanks so much! If anyone knows how to capture moments of beauty, it's you—only you're more willing to share your spoils than a crow!
The corvids of Manchester are very noisy and full of beans right now, so the Crow Moon also works for Northern England. Thank you for introducing me to Shiki and the Tokyo crows!
You're very welcome! However boisterous they may be, you should try not to tick off your local corvids. They'll never forget it. (They'll even pass along your bad reputation to the next generation!)
This is so damned beautiful--a delight to be introduced to the Tokyo crows, to Shiki, to dream of streets too narrow for death, with its cart of fire, to reach.
So glad you read the piece, Freya. May all our streets be too narrow for death until we're ready.
Well penned. Thanks!
Beautiful message :) it is indeed harder to live peacefully under any condition. The crows have figured out that one has to constantly observe, learn, and be curious but cautious to make life a bit easier !
I agree, Rishika—we can learn a lot about life by watching crows and their feathered cousins.
I love following the dance of your mind, hearing where it goes, how the dancers weave and part and resolve again. Such a beautiful post, Will -
Thanks so much, Diana! A great compliment from a dancer!
“Medicinal beauty” is what I live for! Thank you for this exquisite piece (I’ve always had a soft spot for crows) 🖤
Thanks! Yeah, I'm with you on crows--they're special.
What a stunning introduction to your writing. I came from Notes - have yet to check out your video - and fell into this journey through place and time. A beautiful first read of the day, thanks Will.
I'm so glad you fell into my newsletter's orbit, Michela. Your comment here was a beautiful first read of my day. Thank you.
Fantastic and absorbing read. Thanks so much.
I just found your Substack and I really enjoyed this article. I’m fascinated by Covid’s and I also read and write haiku. I live on the seafront and I love to watch the crows turning over seaweed hunting for morsels. I also love watching moonlight on water, especially from the beach, or occasional night swimming.
So glad you found the newsletter, Karen. We're all big fans of moonlight on water here!
Truly beautiful, once again. And once again, I was driving south on Saturday with the moon to my left, which I thought was a full moon and that your newsletter would await me at my destination. Sadly, I was sadly mistaken. But it was worth saving this for my early flight back from the left coast.
Thanks, Jeremy! It was a good one to read while in flight.
Oh my goodness, this piece is beautiful. Forgive me if I find medicinal beauty in the savant-like recall crows have for the human face but can’t quite say why. The narrow streets, the soap luxuries, the reminder of what the crow moon announces, these words, medicinal beauty indeed.
Glad to have found you, Will.
So glad you found me, too! Have a great month, Holly.
This is beautiful, Will. These letters are so wonderful; I don't tell you that nearly enough. Thank you.
I really appreciate that. Thanks for reading, Clary.
Oh this explains why I was going craycray the other night it was a full crow moon
Now it all makes sense! 🌕🐦⬛