Raven Speak . . by agazeley at All poetry

Raven . .
Whence came your name
Surely the Spirit world
Is your domain

Raven- eyed
You screech your warnings
As you soar the sky
On bitter mornings

Raven-feathered
You may be today
As you go screaming
On your way

But I know you come
In many forms
As winter fades
And summer dawns

I’ve seen black stallions
running free
Snorting the air . .
Possessed by thee

Raven-dark
And caviler
You scream a warning
Man should fear

A raven-warning
Should not be ignored
As you cry and skim
Above the fiord

Yes - Man has violated
Your scared sphere
And pollutants are
Abundant here

Icebergs crash
From the Glacier face
Heralding an epitaph
For the human race

Is that why
You scream and dive
Because your animal spirits
Also can’t survive

Is the spirit world
Now in decline
Not only yours . .
But also mine

Will mankind submerge
Into a watery grave
And are raven screams
An attempt to save

Tell me Raven mystic
Will we transcend
Or are we headed for
A fateful end

Author notes

raven-speak, raven-eyed, raven-feathered

A contest entry

Raven --------------- by CarolDesjarlais. 450 points, ended January 31, 2007, 7 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest

Please tell me what you think

Comments

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agazeley
January 30, 2007

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Note for Kevin . . .
I had to go back and re-post this several times and I still can't get the verses to seperate properly - I think the new system still has a few problems -

Albert.
CarolDesjarlais
January 30, 2007

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This is beautifully written. Ravens have been so maligned in so many cultures..not mine, though. Seems so many have hooked onto the negative connotations of this wonderbird. There is nothing more thrilling to be in the far north where the raves will sit on your eave or telephone poles and have their morning conversations about the world...soudnign very much like olittle old men in wisdom and voice. The word "caviler" stopped me as well and I had to go on a search...lol...I never ofudn it but reading the comments later, I see that Oxford is not the only dang dictionary there is.
Jadeheart 41
January 29, 2007

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Wow Powerful!!
I love the pics that go with this piece! This was written just beautifully and had my attention at every word! Well done my friend! Thankyou for sharing such emotion and talent! Semperfimom39
rhondasail
January 29, 2007

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This poem spoke to my heart. I have always loved the Raven, because of his spirit. Poe and others have given this majestic bird a sorry reputation and exiled him to scavenger worlds, but you have given him back his wings and eyes, and through them given our own eyes new visions of oursevles as scavengers...Thank you , thank you! The rhythm is smooth and the rhyme as well. I might even say, glossy as a Raven's feathers.
masterblaster
January 29, 2007
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PS caviler is not a typo lol, a word not often used more's the pity.
masterblaster
January 29, 2007
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Hi, I would have chosen the raven as well, poor creature over the centuries he has been given so often a bad name, perhaps the American Indians knew his real spirit, very nice poem, all the best in the comp,Di
Tercil
January 29, 2007

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I liked this!
..,and raven screams are an attempt.., The pattern of this piece, seems as if our raven here is swooping down, Very mystical, nicely chosen words, just one typo, 'Cavalier'. Nice one!!
- agazeley
  January 29, 2007
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  cav·il (kăv'əl)
  
  v., -iled also -illed, -il·ing -il·ling, -ils -ils.
  
  v.intr.
  To find fault unnecessarily; raise trivial objections. See synonyms at quibble.
  
  v.tr.
  To quibble about; detect petty flaws in.
  
  n.
  A carping or trivial objection.
  
  [French caviller, from Old French, from Latin cavillārī, to jeer, from cavilla, a jeering.]
  
  Haha Not the best of words - but it fitted in . .
  Albert.