Summary

The second section is entitled “Part Two: Defence of the Nest.” Dad recounts the time he had to write his book on Ted Hughes and his poetry collection Crow: from the Life and Songs of the Crow. His publisher encourages him and is sympathetic to the death of Dad’s wife. When Dad tries to focus on his work, Crow interrupts him and pecks at his notes.

Crow tells another story in the style of a fairy tale. It is about a bird who instructs two boys to build a model of the mother. Crow tells the boys that he will bring to life whichever model is the best likeness to their mother. One boy draws and the other builds a model of thinks about the house, like toys and books and ribbons. Crow likes both and the boys are anxious for...