Flight of the Raven | Sandy Eisenberg Sasso 

They sent me first 

Into the unknown 

To a watery grave 

I never wanted to go 

Why leave  

Without a map or a promise? 

The first to go 

Is always the last to know 

the reason. 

Why send me? 

What had I done? 

Nothing, but they blamed me anyway. 

Called me evil, a bad omen 

For flitting to and fro,  

but not going back. 

Would you?  Return 

To the one who never spoke, 

and watched his neighbors drown? 

Let them paint me dark 

And frightening 

Call of us – an unkindness 

But see my locks, beautiful like a lover’s Hear my voice – all so human 

I will feed prophets and not be silent.