after Wallace Stevens

I
When Noah's ark alit on the mountain,
The first thing he sent out
Was the raven.

II
I talked amongst my selves
Like a coffee klatsch
Of three ravens.

III
The raven flew down to its dead dinner
Chilled by autumn winds.

IV
The god and goddess
Are one.
The god and goddess and a raven
Are just too much.

V
I do not know which more pierces me,
The rasp of trickery
Or the rasp of hunger,
The raven cawing
Or just before.

VI
Trees filled the bay window
With shifting shadows.
The light crossed it,
To and fro.
The raven,
Hiding in a branch,
Drew a ray of darkness.

VII
O footballers of Baltimore,
Why do you imagine merchandised birds?
Do you not see how the raven
Flits around the wallets
Hiding in your pockets?

VIII
I know great tales
And speak in golden voices;
But raven knows
That he and I
Share the same dinner.

IX
When the raven made its nest,
It found itself
At the center of the world.

X
At the sight of ravens
Flying under full moonlight,
Even the Goths of Santa Cruz
Would put down their lattes.

XI
She drove to Los Angeles
In a red chariot.
Once, looking in the side mirror,
She mistook
The stuffed animal in the back window
For a raven.

XII
The waters have dried up from the earth.
Raven has returned to Noah.

XIII
It was night all the time.
It was dark
And it was going to stay dark.
The raven flew
And returned with the sun. ©2008 Carol Gunby