the temptation of the persimmon tree
by Eliana Perera, Harkaway Hills College
Years 7 – 8 Ekphrastic Poetry Finalist
‘Crow Eating a Persimmon’ by Ohara Koson (c.1910)
It is migration time at last.
The days grow shorter, Autumn has passed.
“Winter is coming,” the late crows cry,
“The snow is falling, it’s time to fly!”
“We have to fly across the sky,”
“I hope we make it, I don’t want to die”
A young crow squawked with fear.
“The chilly winds are already here!”
“On we go through storm and rain,
To lands where we can be dry again.
With tired wings they raced the clock,
United as one soaking flock.
But one young crow looked back to see,
A persimmon hanging from a tree.
Temptation took over his mind,
And soon he left his friends behind.
He landed on a skinny tree limb,
And clawed the Persimmon with a greedy grin.
But when he opened his beak to swallow his snack,
The wind swept violently and “CRACK!”
The branch that he had gripped so tight
Had lost to the storm in a wicked fight.
The crow fell to his death all alone,
There was no help, his accident unknown.
His hidden grave was a sorry sight,
A reminder to the crows who arrived safely that night.
Not to let the persimmon fruit
Tempt them to stray from their route!