Elijah Fed by Ravens

ii

Listen, you caught the

raven’s beak, couldn’t

stand the wait. You took

the meat before you

were ready. Brook dried,

& the dried-up brook

had rocks, the bottom

unfit for baking

bread. A story comes

later. You couldn’t

wait & meat was there.

But you still didn’t

believe, you saw the

sun-through-leaves, the air

was dry, & a sun

shone. You cannot be

happy. You ask your

self why at least once

a day. At least you

are outside, at least

you have someone who

rubs oil on your neck.

The dried-up brook is

a word saying go,

go, you can’t stay here.

Listen, you catch the

raven by the stem

& force him to tell

you the truth; his laugh

sounds like dried leaves or

what we call the fall,

pack under piles the

names of trees escape

you. You call yourself

ungrateful as you

swallow down the bread

before you get up,

before you can leave.