One cold wet day the ravens
were pecking around the charnel grounds
eyeing me with suspicion
the sea was wild
the wind was cold
the rain was relentless
what were we doing here
paying our respects
or biding time to enter
felt like we’d done this before
meandering between the headstones
wondering why they’d left this life
the weather had set the mood
they were waiting for food
me contemplative in my solitude
I like how the weather plays into the mood of the poem. My dil loves ravens.
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This is absolutely deep – two different situations so well weaved together
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i love this one, the weather sets the mood and your poem complete the contemplative vibe, i could feel myself sinking into the softness of your words.
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Lol! I’m with Paul (pvcann) here – I saw the title and totally expected something different. Do you paint a wonderfully haunting picture here. I wouldn’t be able to contemplate anything with birds around. That Hitchcock movie totally ruined any peace I had with them.
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lol I used to lead meditations on an island in a river. It had huge trees just outside and the birds, maybe hundreds but lots, would be returning to their nests and chatting about their day while were were meditating. I so loved it, much nicer than the sound of air con or cars. Eighteen months later the group said it drove them nuts, they couldn’t believe I was so chill about the volume!
I watched the movie too but it can never detract from the beauty of nature 🙂
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I love the edge of contemplation and life question. As for Ravin Mad – well …. 🙂
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I like a good contemplate 🙂
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Beautiful setting for these awesome Ravens, Kate and your poem is so lovely. To sit and observe everything in silence.
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Excellent, SweetKate! Your poem has vivid word-pictures, and ignites my senses and my emotions!
Sounds like a good day to be watched by ravens AND do some thinking, meditating, and reflection.
I love watching birds! The crows and ravens fascinate me! The ones here can be quite chatty some days. Other days they observe the world in silence. It’s fun to ponder what they think about…and to talk to them. 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
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Evocative poem, Kate, that paints such an achingly vivid tableau with just a few well-chosen words.
Reinforcing what you and others have observed, ravens (all corvids, really) enjoy considerable brain power, dare I say it, on par with mammals. Crows (ravens’ larger cousins here in North America) in out national parks sometimes descend on unattended backpacks, unbuckle them, and extract sandwiches found therein. Pretty crafty manipulation for a creature without opposable thumbs.
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Wonderfully penned. I love watching ravens, they are such an intriguing bird to watch.
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“The raven spirit animal is a reflection of the universe’s mystical ways and is a true reflection of the family of bird spirit animals. When your life is full of raven symbolism, it just signifies that you have a strong and mysterious force surrounding you.”
I have also read some negative thoughts about ravens. But I would rather believe the better of all souls. Even poison ivy has a purpose… the berries if treated correctly make a kind of shellac for protecting inlay work in wooden boxes or other craft.
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hauntingly beautiful……i could picture your words in my mind, very well done!
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Very good poem! You really set the mood here!
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They are the ones sitting mostly and looking. Nice poem
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Such an apt setting for ravens! You caught the mood well, Kate.
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I too had to look up charnel grounds. I read through once and then looked up the meaning, and read through a second time. Quite eerie!
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Let’s not be in a hurry to enter.
I had to look up ‘charnel’. Thanks for the education. It fits your poem well.
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We hav them here too..and they always watch us ..
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they are said to be the most intelligent of birds, I often feel like they are wise ones working us out 🙂
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Ravens are certainly more intelligent than our tweety-bird President, and even more certainly, of higher moral character (though I admit our Pres sets a very low bar).
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