Black Crow Landing - a poem

Black Crow flies deeper into the storm
seeking some being to lay his curse upon
The mark of the death to come he heralds.

Tossed in the winds that swirl and rise
beaten by the rains that drive sideways
still he flies on, seeking one to hear his cry.

For Death stalks behind him, astride his pale horse covered in lather from his rounds
Azrael moves forward with each stride, praying for the end of the world, and his own death.


Soon the bird circles high to guide in
his partner since the conquerors came
to take the job from Coyote and Wolf.

As he soars he reminisces of the old days
when the hunters sought with compassion
and he dispersed Wisdom with his call.

Above it all at the Gates of Peals, Michael and Gabriel argue long the destruction of Man
each not realizing that only Azrael can part the souls they seek from the flesh with his Scythe.

Black Crow rides the thermals like Eagle
Seeking still the moment's poor target
Eyes on the earth below seeking as always

And in his breast the envy that condemned
him to this terrible duty in the sky all times
with only the rest of a moment to give his cry

Around the messenger bird, now the wild swordsman of Heaven dances his dervish steps
Whipping the Sword of Winds around him as he raises the whirling wind around himself.

At last the one to be gathered up has been found
after a hunt longer than most, measured in minutes
not the space between the beats of a loving heart

Black Crow's eyes glitter in black joy,
as he descends for the briefest of rests
upon a branch so conveniently nearby.

At the fire where the man waits, the last of the Archangels sits with the mortal man
speaking the Wisdom he shall need as the New Earth is made ready to rise from War's ashes

Black Crow comes down to Earth
and makes his landing amid the leaves
to cry his death warning to the hapless man

And to his surprise, as talons clasp wood
the black feathers fall away in overdue molt
revealing his ancient White Crow form of Wisdom


And the Grim Reaper grins in relief and happiness as he rides his steed in one last time
Man rising from converse with his angelic brother sitting at the fire for the end of Watching

As man takes the Knife of Immortality to slay the angel who lived so men would die
and the New Earth is born under the rule of Sophia who speaks through White Crow

As the angels are at last gathered
upon that long debated pinhead
to dance in joy with their work done.