the raven sees all
an unselfish sorcerer
marooned on Earth

bird brain absorbing
breakthroughs beyond trash bin trails
beady eyes burrowed

in immense beauty
surviving traces of life
and signals of death

this dry wide expanse
this sore throat gasping to caw
ax blade looms above

brink ledge hears terror
unreasonable demands
restlessness echoes

From Bodega Bay
to Point Lobos and Tor House
eyes search to be free

from the vacant beasts
with corrupt, lurking minds
dead set to destroy

all-seeing raven
casting an unbeknownst spell
be gone futile ways

fade away vile words
listen, reason, be mindful
vigilant for peace

cease dreadful stirring
bark of night and frightful day
abandon the abuse

all things extinct return
all beings dreary turn bright
evergreen vision

winged overseer
not a fantasy maker
or a pipe dreamer

filtered noise static
layers of decay and doom
banished and bygone

a soulful cadence
dance of branches devoid fire
slipstream of healing

Daniel Yaryan is the poet-author of the illustrated volume Sorcerers: Through Dimensions Infinite and the creator of the Sparring with Beatnik Ghosts series and anthologies. His publishing imprint is Mystic Boxing Commission, which recently released Michael C Ford’s In Case of Flood, Stand on this Book —It’s Dry English; Anne Marie Maxwell’s memoir Tripping with a Viper; and the new Sparring Artists: Anthology of Sparring With Beatnik Ghosts (Annual 2), available Halloween 2024.