30 MAY 1970, Page 17

Two poems by Ted Hughes Crow's theology

Crow realised God loved him—

Otherwise, he would have dropped dead. So that was proved.

Crow reclined, marvelling, on his heart-beat.

And he realised that God spoke Crow— Just existing was His revelation.

But what Loved the stones and spoke stone? They seemed to exist too.

And what spoke that strange silence After his clamour of caws faded?

And what loved the shot-pellets That dribbled from those strung-up mummifying crows? What spoke the silence of lead?

Crow realised there were two Gods—

One of them much bigger than the other Loving his enemies And having all the weapon&