Last night,
I was awoken by a raven
that had flown in through
my open window, and
perched itself atop my book-case.
.
Who is there? I cried.
Let me give you what for!
But t’wasn’t human that answered.
.
Said the raven,
“Dinty Moore”
.
Tell me, bird, I asked.
Are you an omen, or divine?
Is this a message of the future?
Of what I have in store?
But my plea it went unanswered.
.
Said the raven,
“Dinty Moore”
.
Wait, I said,
as suddenly I knew.
Dinty Moore?
The beef-stew?
.
Is that why you bother me?
Is this what you tout?
Is that why you woke me?
.
Said the raven,
“I’ll show myself out.”
part two
The next morning,
still in my kerchief & night-gown,
I sat with a cup of coffee at
the breakfast nook;
lit a bowl, & pondered my
passerine pop-in ad.
.
And how, despite the intrusion,
I suppose some beef-stew
did sound pretty good.
.
When suddenly,
there was a tapping at my window.
It was another raven!
This one dressed smart —
.
In a pressed white shirt
with black tie — taut.
On a card table was an e-meter.
.
Said the raven,
“Would you like to see a thought?”