Between Monsters & Beasts

Graveyard Crows

Graveyard Crows

What is it, do you suppose,

that goes on in the heads of crows

that sit upon the graveyard gate

and patiently commence to wait

for spirits gone awandering;

these crows in solemn pondering.

They sit together, wing to wing,

and sometimes they begin to sing

in cawing cries the living hear

as pestilence upon the ear.

But spirits drifting to and fro

are savvy to the words of crow.

"The leaves are gone, the trees are bare,

a chill has settled on the air

and here we are, past Samhain's gate

and so the hour has gotten late.

Come on, come on, it's time to go
if we're to beat the coming snow!"

But spirits rambling toward the door

are hesitant, all wanting more

of all the things they leave behind
and fearful of what they may find;

what fate awaits them where they go

upon the midnight wings of crow?

They crouch behind their weathered slates

and silently begin to wait;

resolving simply to forego

the cautionary tales of crow.

But cutting through the creeping mist

the crows continue to insist:

"The veil between the worlds is thin

but if you're late you won't get in

then wandering will be all you'll do

if you stay here and can't get through.

Come on, come on, " the crows all cry,

"There are worse things than just to die!"

But spirits do what spirits do.

Some wait too long and don't get through

and so, unto the earth they're bound

and left to molder on the ground.

They cannot know the sweet repose

that flew away on wings of crows.

- J. Lorian Young