ONCE UPON

 On a road trip…eyes a little bleary…as we pondered bright and cheery

over many a quaint and curious…long and winding road…. 

We commenced the car to stopping…the view ahead …jaw-dropping

Stopping at an overlook…we opened up our doors

Noticing a silent visitor once we opened up our doors

Only this and nothing more.

We stopped at an overlook in Yellowstone where we were greeted by a very persistent Raven…who never left our side…just sat there staring at us…

so with my apologies to Edgar….

It was a beautiful day in May…when we stopped along the way

To enjoy a moment of beauty…one of solitude

But this bird not prone to caring…just kept staring…staring…staring

It was obvious to us…this bird had an attitude

Did she realize her actions were quite rude?

How her silent staring was destroying our solitude?

Presently our souls grew stronger…hesitating then no longer

“Sir,” or “madam,” we sad, “truly your forgiveness we implore

but the fact is we were stopping to enjoy this view…jaw-dropping

when you showed up the moment we opened up our doors.

Why did you show up the moment we opened up our doors?”

Silence from the bird…and nothing more.

Deep into her dark eyes peering…long we stood there…waiting…fearing

wondering what this huge bird had in mind

But the silence was unbroken and the stillness gave no token

In her cold eyes there was nothing we could find…

Was she looking for something edible left behind?

Could it be this bird just wanted to be dined?

I said, “We have no food for you…we’re only here to see the view.”

But the Raven didn’t believe us or perhaps didn’t understand.

Because she just kept sitting…never flinching…never flitting

As if her sober silence she had planned…. 

Waiting for us to meet her mute demand…

As if we’d ever bow to her command!

I imagine that Raven never flitting..never flitting is still sitting is still sitting

In her silent solitude without a song.

Because we left her far behind…without food of any kind

knowing feeding any wild life is wrong…

Knowing she will wait there all night long.…

For the nest innocent and unsuspecting car to come along.

And we hope any car that stops along the way…any moment of any day

Once they, too, have opened up their doors.

No matter how much they thinks this bird is needing…will not fall for all her pleading

Will not…no matter how much she implores

send a bite of food outside their door

So that this raven will beg for dinner….nevermore.