Ravens swarm
above a railroaded manly path
I walk

With downriver pilgrims
through mortal silenced wilderness,
away from more dogmatic savagery

Deadly, I fear,
chattering
clattering
flapping righteous wings
roosting crones
stalking,
inviting history’s dry splattered bones
to continue back
toward forward

And so continue
with othered chatter
now fluttering and twittering
off right
on to left
cawing barren winter trees
warning mystery’s clawing concern

Not urgent
yet relentlessly hungry

Poignant memories
for eyes to see
ears to hear,
not follow

But walk along side
then back away,
leaping invisible borders
noted by naked trees,
silent witnesses
of paternal journey’s ravenous flight

Now squawking
stalking right side
and behind,
encouraging hubris to continue on
oil-spilled tracks

But not too far
for they have a place to show
much like rook voices sound
rushing early spring’s awakening brook

Streaming water chattering against rock,
fat rain too loud dropping
on scolding cold tin roof
shelter.

Rain comes
enjoying refound sounds
here to witness this black river
of clatter chatter
purifying ironed tracks

Ahead now,
growing
crowing across shivering river
through grey winter woodland

Raucous spell toward quiet left
pause to swell again
like summer’s nighttime crickets.

Crowded ravens regather
to cautiously
silently
suspiciously roost behind me,
watching

What trauma will pass
from upriver,
uptrack,
up desolate time’s revolution
hunting haunting mystery

Not urgent
aching dull memories
of starving othered bones
for breaking richer
deeper
quieter upriver fragile times

Pausing stormy visions
fleet fluttered reminders,
then off again

Flying right winged journeys
leaving left behind
to embitter
railroad walking mine.