Raven

Humans have been fascinated by, frightened by, and have written about ravens for millennia.

In Greek and Roman mythology the raven is associated with Apollo and was an omen of bad luck. The raven is the first bird mentioned in the bible - Noah sent a raven out to test for the end of the flood but it never came back - the dove was second and did. Hence dove (white) is seen as good and pure, the raven (black) is treated with suspicion - in the Talmud version the raven has a huge argument with Noah before leaving.

The Three Ravens is one of the oldest recorded folk songs and has versions in many countries. The ravens discuss eating a dead knight but he is protected by his hawk, hounds and lady. In the Scots version things are darker - there are two (twa) corbies and they have noticed that the protection has gone and will be feasting on the body parts.

Shakespeare's references and Edgar Allen Poe's famous poem did nothing to dispel this ancient fear.

The facts about these birds are not helpful if you are superstitious - they appear to be instinctively aware of what people and animals are thinking, can solve puzzles and are cunning thieves.

I did a workshop in Derby where we had to write a piece about a dark creature doing your job. This is mine. I also wrote a second one, inspired by Three Ravens that will appear in a different blog entry.

Raven

I

Raven pecks with fury at the keyboard
jerks up his head; eyes dart across the room
as if he is observed; but he is not
he pecks some more, stop-start the words fall out -
the email, treacle-like, sucks at his will.

II

The project is late,
the people are whispering
it's all his fault,
it's out of control;
centuries of discrimination
weigh on his soul.

III

People smile at him
but he can sense they are fake.
They see their quota,
their percentage point
of guilt-free recruitment.
Crow didn't last long -
couldn't cope with the
seething resentment, the lies,
the nervous, twitching,
field-mouse eyes.
Two of them, sat eating bread
at lunch, alone together.
Segregated.

IV

He knows he's better than the rest;
they tolerate him, they appease;
as long as he is not a threat.
He scans the message from his boss
"Get it finished by the twelfth"
Raven sighs and slowly pecks -
he knows that code won't write itself.

Tim Fellows 2018