I originally wrote five verses somewhere between 2012 - 2014, but didn't like the last verse, so years later, I deleted the last part, and ended up writing seven more verses. Made a few more changes today.
I looked into the raven's eye,
my sorrow, my guilt, I began to cry.
Thinking I had contained it within,
no regrets or remorse, my hideous sin.
Just a stone in my hand,
thrown high... raven plummeting to the land.
"Wake up! wake up! you stupid bird!"
I meant no harm, and then I heard....
A small voice whispers in my ear:
you took a life, but do not fear.
Poor dead black bird, ugly and plain,
to value him, is just in vain.
Cry over the peacock, eagle and swan,
he is nothing, but your pawn.
The raven lay upon his side,
the guilt on my face, I couldn't hide.
The truth felt like a jagged knife,
to realize I had, took a life.
Without thought , nor remorse,
I threw that stone, with violent force.
Guilt would over take my hate,
too late for the raven, he knew his fate.
Poor dead black bird, ugly and plain,
to value him is just in vain.
YOU ARE READING
If Only Love
PoetryI wrote this poem in 1987 during the time of the Ethiopian famine. Last year I changed a couple lines, and this is my updated version. When I first wrote this poem I was only 18 years old and hadn't had children yet. Now after nursing 7 children, I...
