David O'Haolin Whalen Poet Rhyme

To Chat With a Raven

 Wind whispers through fingers 
of ebony black pinions
Head cocked to watch me 
as he drifts past my eyes

Apprising and appraising
My place in his dominion
Head cocked to watch me
As he effortlessly flies

To a graceful landing
Atop a lodge-pole pine
Then the head cocked again
Ebon eyes locked on mine

As if posing the question 
Without uttering a word
What is your  place here
In my world?…asked the bird

The question was stated
As a guttural squawk
Yet understood quite plainly
If one can parse Raven talk

On my precarious perch
On my pre-Cambrian ledge
I pondered the question
As I looked down at the sedge

Five hundred feet down the bottom lies
Perhaps a bit more… or less
I peered into the raven’s obsidian eyes
And replied “not really sure, I confess”

Did I come here to leap
Did I come here to die
I was rather hoping
You could tell me why

He croaked, with a fluffing of feathers
“To leap, to die? no, not a reason so craven
The reason my son, and  a very good one
Was your need to chat up a raven

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Francine Roberts July 4, 2012 at 3:55 PM wonderful piece, there has been a Raven's nest outside my window 2 springs in a row now, they were my fodder for "Domestic Dispute".... a most heartfelt welcome to the soup , I hope you will love it here as much as I

Debbie Guzzi June 26, 2012 at 4:00 PM Those crows/ravens have had such a colorfull part in many myths! Light & Love David O'Haolin Whalen June 26, 2012 at 7:55 PM Thanks much Deb, Your comments mean a lot coming from a writer who writes much better than I about Nature. (yes, I visited your blog, and I always do before I make a reply) and much of your work seems Nature oriented, which puts your work high on my list.