On Raven's Wings

On Raven’s Wings

Cradling love rosaries on mountain’s crest

Feeling cold white light wrap around her

Full moon rises over riverbeds; cows

Put down their lips to rust-dry troughs

Between frogs, fallen leaves — deep pines

Solitary loon cries once, fades in mist

Dragonfly ripples through reeds

Tawny-throated nightingale sings

A soulful romance, fanning clouds

Quiet rain spreads in her garden

Plum eyes rise in entranced surprise

On raven's wing she’s lifted high,

Singing with a woman’s sound

Her mouth unveils a silken bridge

Towards starry voices, a silver shawl

Waving backwards on a scarlet road

She follows the autumn wind

Where thoughts, tight as tangled silk

Lash themselves in warm vermillion

Against the dying light

Selena Howard © 2012