Large Fierce Mammal

Viktor (L) and Lukas (R) cheerfully pose at the end of the expedition that inspired today’s feature. The Ravens declined to be photographed. LFM photo.

“I have always felt a comradeship with Ravens and Crows, and fortunately for me, the feeling appears to be reciprocated.” ~ The Strange Case of the Caller at the Library Window

You may recall that I feel compelled to write about Ravens and Crows periodically. For example, there’s A Choir of Crows, The Strange Case of the Caller at the Library Window, and The Strange Case of the Caller at the Library Window (Epilogue). Tonight’s poem came to my mind almost fully formed one day while afield in the LFM back 40 with oldest son Viktor (5) and middle son Lukas (3).

I had been aware of the presence of at least two Ravens the entire time we were out, periodically glimpsing and hearing them through the forest canopy, and as we were just entering the porch on our return, I heard a loud croak to my left. Turning toward the sound, I saw a pair of Ravens flying in close formation over the trees, and the nearest one, who I took to be the speaker, was looking straight at me.

I did laugh, the striking event coming as it did at the end of a heart filling interlude in Fathercraft. And Viktor did ask me the reason for my mirth. My answer was as you will read below.

The Ravens

By LFM

On Father’s Day, my sons were out
Where boys should always be —
Getting dirt beneath their nails,
And climbing every Tree.

Staining knees and dragging bums,
Scraping elbows too.
Watching beetles in the grass
Where all that’s old is new.

At last the evening wind spoke up,
Suggesting food and bath.
Two dirty, happy, tired boys
Were ushered down the path.

Perfumed with pine and forest loam,
Infused with woodland lore,
Their happy chatter never ceased
Up to and through the door.

And just before I followed them,
A deep familiar cry
Came down the breeze from high above —
Two Ravens drawing nigh.

I paused, one foot inside the door,
And watched them as they came.
One croaked again, and strange to tell,
It sounded like my name.

Just then both boys were back outside
To see where Dad had gone,
And there we stood just watching
Those two Ravens from the lawn.

As though the boys attracted them
They circled back around,
And came to orbit over
Where we stood there on the ground.

Seeing us all standing there
With eyes upon the sky,
My Wife and youngest babe came out
To learn the reason why.

The Raven spokesman croaked again,
The pair came closer still,
It seemed the speaker had
A parting word upon its bill.

And this was spoken straight to me
As briefly, eye to eye,
The Messenger sped overhead,
Ere mounting to the sky.

As we watched the pair depart,
I laughed and shook my head.
“What’s funny?” asked my oldest son.
“A thing the Raven said.”