The Raven King

Dark gnarly branches twisting upwards

Dividing, narrowing

The slender twigs giving shape

A shadowed silhouette

With backdrop of fire

As blazing sunset ignites

The skeleton tree

 

Rising above the sun’s flames

A raven on wing

Soaring high it encircles

Then alights atop

The skeleton tree

Stripped clean of leaves

Now crowned with feathers

 

The raven perches on highest bough

A self-created wooden throne

The Raven King

With majestic robes

Of glossy feathers

Iridescent, illuminated by

Gleaming reflections

 

The Raven King silently watching

Waiting for nightfall

As sunset’s glow dims

Daylight fades

Pulled into shadows

Darkness like the raven’s wings

Descends upon earth

 

Sunset’s flame extinguished, the air cools

We shiver then freeze

As a single cry shatters silence

The Raven King speaks

A warning sign

Sound covers silence

As darkness covers light

 

copyright © 2018 Karen Horsley