Thursday, December 2, 2010

The Mark of the Raven


Ah, I see in your smile
A recent visit from the bird
Who marks our faces

Crow’s feet
Or raven’s
Around the eyes
He lands
And leaves his mark
Then flies
"Caw"
Shattering the sound
Of safety

Show your mark
Show your raven-scar
Show where he stood
And printed
Eulogies to come

Show your crow-scar
With a smile
And a wink
Laugh along with
The black-winged joker
His sign was known
Before it marked your face
His sign is hidden
In the soft skin
Of babies
He even lands on the womb

So do not fret
His constant flight
Overhead
His cackling
Caws
His dark aspect
Do not worry
When he comes
To mark your eyes

But laugh
Laugh with the crow
And raven
Laugh that soon this coil
Will unravel
And release
Its tainted captor

To what?
To where?
Perhaps some distant shore
Some sunrise
Or sunset
But never
Nevermore.

21 comments:

  1. vivid capture of emotions conjectured with beautiful nature images,
    fabulous entry.
    Thanks for sharing!

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  2. Beautiful poem. Right from the beginning I knew I would like :)

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  3. To what?
    To where?
    Perhaps some distant shore
    Some sunrise
    Or sunset
    But never
    Nevermore. ... I wish I was off to some sunrise on other shore ...

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  4. Agree with your well-expressed sentiments completely. Those marks are the mark of being human, of life's passage and inevitable finish. Excellent piece.

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  5. The symbolism is quite striking.
    Good stuff.

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  6. Powerful--love the ending.

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  7. wonderful n powerful.excellent poem:)

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  8. brilliant brilliant and more brilliant, and again :D

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  9. Thanks for sharing. I truly enjoyed reading it.

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  10. Hi, I'm here again to read again about this sunshine and shore you wrote so lovely about,

    I'd like also to invite you to join our potluck week 13 at Jingle Poetry : http://jinglepoetry.blogspot.com/

    Write a poem fitting our week 13 theme (Dreams, Visions, Reveries), post it, and link in to our potluck, you are also allowed to link in unrelated poems. we are open Sunday, 8pm, American central time.

    We have had so much fun having you last week. I cannot wait seeing you on coming Monday again.

    Let me know if you have questions.

    Have A Weekend As Graceful As Your Writing!

    xoxox

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  11. Fydor, this is masterful. Raven and crow certainly have etched their marks on my face and I see it as a badge of honor (and survival). No plastic surgery for this girl. I especially like this:

    Laugh that soon this coil
    Will unravel
    And release
    Its tainted captor

    Victoria
    http://liv2write2day.wordpress.com/2010/11/27/b-is-for-bougainvillea/

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  12. i love the metaphor of life...amazing poem:)Great imagery:)

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  13. Amazing work! Your symbolism is so clever (do I detect a reference to Poe's Raven in the last line?)
    Well done, excellent poem!

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  14. Yes! Definitely a reference to Poe. I'm glad you caught it, I was beginning to think nobody noticed. :)

    Thanks for your comments. And thank you to all of you for your kind comments!

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  15. This is beautiful and thought provoking Fyodor!
    :-)

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  16. Marvelous poem. Poe would be honored!

    My submission for Thursday Poet's Rally is here:
    http://seasweetie.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/haiku/

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  17. I love the thought of Raven and Crow leaving their mark, wonderful!

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  18. Such an awesome poem! I love your blog and your blog's header picture!

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