raven

It’s one of the few poems where I show a progressing story: the focus goes from me to a raven and then to the raven’s scream.

CONTENT WARNING: The verse alludes to self-harm, suicide, and death. It’s not obvious but it’s there. If you find these topics sensitive, don’t tempt yourself, skip this verse.

I’ve died and went back to start
Lost my time, a dozen years
Raised a raven in my heart
Fed it all my pain and tears

I count from one to five
Slowly climb up the stage
I take in hands a knife
And open up the cage

The dark raven will fly high
Beyond what I fear and dream
In the dark and snowy sky
For my wounds and loss he’ll scream

That last scream, wherever sent
Will cut briefly through the dark
This will be my last lament
My last flash of dying spark

It will die, as all the things
The cold night consuming all
The raven will spread his wings
Rise high one last time, and fall