with a nod to Poe

               Stupid Raven









I know that my Redeemer lives

Be that as it may,

There's still this

Irritating

Black bird

Rapping on my chamber door

Incessantly reminding me

Of my loss

Grief is like an earthquake

At least mine has been

I knew it was likely to come

I thought  i'd prepared

Yet when it arrived I was still 

Shocked & overwhelmed

What's worse

Are the aftershocks

Never knowing when they'll come

Or how frequently

Or how hard each will be

Or how long they'll each last

I know you're better off

And in our Savior's arms

But you're not in my arms anymore

And I'm not in yours

I'm supposed to be  on your shoulders 

In the sun

Or slung over your shoulder

Asleep, too tired  & too young

Depending on your stamina and strength and patience

But this fucking raven keeps visiting me

In my chamber

"No more, never more!"

Shut up

Stupid bird

Stupid melancholy

Stupid pain

Let me go

Rain, rain, go away

Come back again some other day

Maybe someday when it's easier to ignore  you,

Work through  you

See past  you

Today, ...you're all I know








      Ted Mallory