I met a Raven today

[Graehstone]

Corvus Corax

Nature, be she Mother or Father, is as beautiful and kind as she is ugly and cruel.
But, … we, as mere mortals will, as a species to its dying breath, try to change it to what we think is to the better. That would be, …to our standards seeing as how there are no others to dispute anything we say or do.
Sorry for the lament there, but many things are flying around in my head at the moment and it becomes difficult to keep perspective when emotions are involved.
I have much to say and all of it not kind, therefore I shall leave this posting shorter than usual, suffice it to say that I tried to do the right thing. Whatever that might be.
Whilst on my daily walks I always have my camera with me, because many has there been the time that I could have had the “shot of a lifetime” had I a camera at hand. You know the one, lol, everyone has had it before I bet, the feeling of “Shi*, Where’s the Cam…” and it’s too late, it’s gone, but Man-o-man that would have been a great picture, had I only had my camera.
Well, I now have my camera with me at all times and am still waiting for the Shot of all shots to make me rich and, … well, just rich is Ok I guess, lol.
Craving my daily dose of my favorite drug, and feeling the symptoms of withdrawal slowly creep into my system, I hobbled along the shortest route I knew to the place where I could still the rising need in my body.
Along the way, about half way there I saw one of the Sky children (Corvus Corax aka, The Raven) on the other side of the street and he seemed to be in some distress.
Here in the San Diego area of Southern California the Raven population is very large and it is not uncommon to see flocks reaching into the thousands as they head from their nightly roosts to, … well, wherever it is that they go during the day, you know, some of them over this way and a couple of hundred or so over that way.
I call them the Sky children. There are so many of them.
There is one that lives somewhere in the area (or at least I think he does, could be wrong and he just likes my ‘hood) and he speaks. I know it’s the same one because he always says the same thing. In between the Caw-Caw’s, he says, “Shoo, shoo, go away shoo, shoo”, somewhere, someone has this particular Raven as a daily visitor.
Well this particular child of the sky did not look well and I took out my camera to maybe zoom in and see what the problem might be.
I wished I hadn’t done that.
He was on the other side of the main road leading through the town I live in, and I would have to get over 4 lanes and the middle divider in order to reach him. Not an easy task during lunch hour traffic, especially for an old fart with a stick (cane).
By the time I was able to cross the road he had hoped down and began to sideways walk over toward cover.
The entire time I was agonizing within about what to do, I had a decision to make and not a whole lot of time to make it. Not really a hard choice for me, with rent heart and bleary eyes I tried to catch the child of the sky, for not half a mile from where the two of us danced the never ending circular dance of life and death, there was an emergency vet and the girl that works there, one of my neighbors.
I knew there would be no new sunrise for the child of the sky, all I wanted to do was end the day with it in peace and harmony and free of pain, to allow it to go and join all the others that have gone before and who guide the way to the Rainbow Bridge.
Fickle she was this day, our Mother.
I, who walks and talks to the trees as he passes them thanking them for the shade that they provided to me during my walks, and who sits and watches the sky children chase and harass the hawks and kestrels.
I, who can tell you exactly where what spider lives in the apartment (there are 14 btw and all good spiders)
I, who, well, … you know, is not quite, … like, … like the others, and “Not from around here”. Man who walks with stick.
And Brother Raven, herald to the gods, bringer of fame and fortune and of death and destruction.
Bother Raven, who was ailing and withering.
Brother Raven, who was still, … a child of the sky and Proud.
Brother Raven, in need.
Fickle indeed.
Too frail of body and too weak of spirit was I as I tried to … unsuccessfully enfold him with the shirt that I had removed for that purpose. With the last remnants of strength left in his gnarled feet and battered wing, he glanced over one last time with his good eye as the sun glinted in it reminding me of times he had flown high and free, and launched himself into the air and over the hedge out of my field of vision forever.
At no time did contact occur in any way, shape or fashion, nonetheless the shirt will be disposed of for the safety of my own fildren at home.
Sigh, … I tried.
May she make it quick and painless, our Mother, and take him home.
By now my nerves are frazzled beyond belief. Here I am in the throws of a major full body detox situation and then this happens to give them the last “Twang”.
My drug was near, I could feel it, I could taste it, I could, … I needed a major infusion, soon.
My heart still heavy and my mind in chaos and my soul in turmoil, I had reached my destination. My body was beginning to react to too much blood in my caffeine system and my daily Mocha Frappuchino w/out whip cream (sissy stuff you know) would restore the natural balance of things.
The natural balance of things, … should we mess with that? How much? How often?
Many things flying around in my head, many things not understood, many things never meant to be.
For the Children of the Sky.


Warning!!! Not for the feint of heart!!! http://nz.msnusers.com/GraehsStuff/hurtraven.msnw

[jessicaboyer89]

So sorry you had that experience. :( I always admired the large Raven population when I live in S. Cal. I loved watching them take baths in the sprinklers! Your friend doesn't realize that you were trying to help or he would have been grateful. You did all you could. I hope he goes in peace.

[TooLover]

As always, your words are so beautiful; still waiting for you to write that book so I can boast and brag that I "know" you.
In Florida the pigeons are considered a nusance, and sometimes when the occupy empty warehouses they are shot. I, myself, find them interesting and beautiful. They love to hang out at the dump, and my hubby says they are dirty. I don't see them as dirty, and I marvel in the fact that they actually appear to lay down (roost). I love to feed them and watch them hover overhead, as long as they don't poop on my head!

[smallonion]

I love ravens and crows. Here in London we have so many of them. They are beautiful and so clever. I'm sorry about the dear poor one you saw today.

I love your writing and you are such a hippie ( that is a sincere compliment!) I too let the spiders live in my house - never chase them out or kill them.

Michele and Humphrey