The Crow

The crow lands outside my window
To wait patiently for my soul should it decide to go.
Read my thoughts my winged black brother
Today is not the day--go wait for another.

I've thoughts to think, my blood is flowing,
The fire is burning, I'm desperate to be going.
I'm starting to think that it's all coming clear
I might have a clue as to why I am here.
I've got to be strong for the way is not easy
It's not a path for the weak or queasy.
I must be the master of my physical domain
My body must be ready for the terrible strain.

The crow remains outside my window
Waiting patiently for my soul should it decide to go.
Read my thoughts my winged black brother
Today is not the day--go wait for another.

It's obvious to me that the answers I need
Have been germinating inside like a tiny seed
And now is the time after mental purging
That the seed case is splitting and the plant is emerging.
I've made it so hard by looking without
But now I can say without a doubt
That I'll break the surface and see the light
And think if I have to until the night.

The crow has a partner outside my window
Waiting patiently for my soul should it decide to go.
Read my thoughts my winged black brothers
Today is not the day--go wait for others.

Each prophet that's come to this floating orb
Has said the same thing but none will absorb
There is nothing to be learned from the books on the shelf
You have every answer contained in yourself.
You're God and you're Satan and all that's between
You can dump all your baggage and wipe the slate clean.
Following others with their beliefs and rules
Is the utmost stupidity practiced by fools.

The crows are flocking outside my window
Waiting patiently for my soul should it decide to go.
Read my thoughts my winged black brothers
Today is not the day--go wait for others.

My spirit has existed since the beginning of time
Floating free through space or living in slime
From planet to planet, from star to star
It's traveled long and it's traveled far.
Evolving and learning in spurts and fits
Leaving it's abode when the wanderlust hits.
And finally it found me as my cells began to split
And I grew and it waited and now here I sit.

The noise is deafening outside my window
The flock is waiting should my soul decide to go.
Read my thoughts my winged black brothers
Today is not the day--go wait for others.

The spirit grows bored with its mortal form
It spent more time here than was its norm.
It learned a lot throughout this life
The love and hate and restless strife.
Its ready now for its final mutation
To end its travels and eternal gestation.
Without much warning it does its part
And wills the body to stop the heart.

The flock is silent outside the window
As the soul has chosen this moment to go.
They had read the thoughts of their restless brother
And knew there was no need to look for another.

-- Michael Rusk