Author: michael raven

  • shameful

    I normally avoid political posts anymore.

    But I cannot ignore that my city is under siege by a fascist-leaning, racist, murdering, and lawless Administration who is disregarding all law and order in an effort to eject brown-skinned people of all citizenship statuses.

    We have rights.

    The right to protest. The right to free speech. The right of assembly. The right to be free from unreasonable, warrantless seizing of persons and property. The right to due process.

    And now? Our State of Minnesota is being threatened with invocation of the Insurrection Act because we are exercising those Rights.

    The Federal government is violating our Constitutional Rights and harming the people of Minnesota with their jackbooted thugs marching around, harming and arresting US citizens (as well as immigrants) without restraint, demanding to see our “IDs and paperwork” to prove we are citizens, under threat of being Disappeared or suffering disproportionate violence if we do not comply. These thugs are breaking down doors without judicially-signed warrants to demand proof of citizenship and dragging people out of their homes. They are racially profiling people, and are often wrong about their race, let alone their citizenship.

    I am posting about these things because this is a travesty of justice and the rule of law. What you see in news media from outside Minnesota is not media sensationalism. It is stone-cold fact. People exercising their right to peacefully protest are being arrested, beaten, assaulted with “less-than-lethal” ammunition, pepper-spayed, flash-banged and terrorized by the Federal government for “not being very nice” and because “they are not being respected”. Seriously. This is how thin-skinned these folks are: they are using military weapons against Minnesotans because we aren’t showing them enough respect.

    The President and his minions are on his little revenge tour because our governor dared to run against him (as VP) and our state dared give our electoral votes for someone besides him. That is why we’re in the line of fire.

    If it is not self-evident, I am angry. And, if you honestly love your country, you should be offended and angry by what is happening in Minnesota right now. It is disgusting and absolutely un-American on top of being utterly shameful.

    I will close all comments if they are not respectful. I don’t care if you disagree, but I do demand you are respectful in language and content. I will delete or edit all comments failing to meet that threshold.

  • casting runes — 15jan26

    thurisaz
    we gnash stone teeth on
    hoarcrust razorwire
    we are icebreakers with
    bones marked scrimshaw
    we dance the ghost
    under driving snow
    for all who fall

    can you stand tall against that?

    A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.

    Today’s rune is thurisaz, which has several core translations: “thorn” or “giant”. The rune is often associated with pain or discomfort (often for an important transitional or transformative reason) or raw power that may be destructive. It is also considered protective, regenerative, and is frequently associated with women’s menstrual health.

    Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.

  • weary on a river slumber

    i weary on a river slumber
    i give her lap my head
    wrap my eyes in white
    to mark the unseeing
    to staunch the weeping
    rags scarlet gone the night

    taut rusts the snare
    wrapped ever tight
    around this throat
    twine storm eens brew
    upon where those cast them
    a raging gone the night

    come gloaming at the rushes
     a shattered waving winding
    in the morning’s early light
    i weary on a river slumber
    wrap my eyes up in white
    rags scarlet forever the night

  • casting runes — 14jan26

    algiz
    embracing skymothersun
    asking for her daylight come
    to pierce the shadows bright

    grounded, stone me grows
    'twixt the narrows
    drinking a wellspring below

    my arms hold boisterous crows
    celebrating her return

    A rune poem, based on an Elder Futhark rune selected at random.

    Today’s rune is algiz, which may mean either “elk” (there is some uncertainty if this is the case) or yew (Old Norse). It is associated with the Otherworld, protection/sanctuary, and with guardian spirits/fylgja. The unconscious mind is also sometimes associated with algiz.

    Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.

  • little of this dying

    Photo by Alice Alinari on Unsplash
    handbare hip, we hold to night
    caress of thigh to thigh to
    drink you with raggedbreath
    nectar sweet the tongue tasting so

    we forget stars falling, give to
    eyedrawn and sinking, looking
    past doors locked against pale

    leannán, drain of misery
    let come, let call, let dream
    bring me a little of this dying