The crow flew through the shadowy dawn
The frail robin nestled in his claw
He found a puddle on a rooftop and sat
And touched water on the robin's sore
Where a despairing mother had in her rage
Lashed a rock at the robin's song
He was saved by chance the crow flew past
His companion carefully spirited along
The crow tenderly drew off the blood
That twisted up the robin's feathers
As he did so the robin peeked his weary eyes
To see he and the crow together
"I won't sing for them anymore," he said,
"You were right, for all their talk of heart
The humans cannot be soothed or saved
I hope they stay in their lives apart."
The crow let a drop roll down his beak
And the robin took a grateful sip
He could not face the crow's righteous stare
As he rolled aside on his ragged hip
"So what will you do without your cause?"
The crow began, triumphantly voiced
"Did you never learn in all this time of sorrow
Their passions are not always a choice?"
"But drawing blood is, for just a song,
One they have heard me sing before."
The robin stifled back a tear
"Time to spend on my own life more."
The crow tried to move his wing close by
In comfort but the robin swatted it back
"I bet you relish my just rewards,
A punishment for foolish chores exact?"
The crow ruffled and clawed the stone
How close the robin cut his word
Even forgoing his frail saved life
It was the day the bitter truth was heard
"Perhaps a time comes for even good tasks
To change their course, and in so find
Old ways don't work for newer woes
There is needed more a healing time."
The robin looked up at the crow's long face
His dark eyes glistening in the grey light
Could a future work better with compromise
And give him strength for a tougher fight?
"Thank you, my friend, for unusual help."
"In unusual times they seem quite plain."
The two of them afforded a little smile
As the quiet morning began to rain.
@nepion_boreas17
