Author: michael raven

  • sleepwalking

    I think I’ll step out for a spell.

  • ritual carving

    Photo by Harald Pliessnig on Unsplash
    i carve away ritual
    peel away the chapped &
    speak with raw lips
    to swear to sacred love
    again

    she stands stones
    above the water
    everyday waiting in
    each finger bend
    in every finger fold
    a flower waiting for bloom

    hush

    waiting on flows form
    while dawn fills—
    mouth to mouth,
    breath to breath,
    eyes give to eyes
    known

  • casting runes — 12jan26

    othala
    lake facing lake
    in underwater to go
    slipping beneath winter
    cut scrimshaw carved stone

    these deadlands beckon
    ...come, sit, eat...
    blackwing at wellside up
    watching the old wind sweep

    A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.

    Today’s rune is othala, which has a core meaning of “heritage”, “inheritance” and “legacy”. These are all associated with home, kin, ancestors, stability and (in some interpretations) past lives or spiritual legacy.

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

  • when of me?

    when of me?
    .
    .
    .
    when?
    .
    .
    aching at return
    nothing i know am i, yet
    tattooed inside lip mine
    a name a name a name
    carved into my femur
    cut into my heart
    pinned upon my sleeve
    pierced onto my tongue
    .
    .
    asking as if need—
    when, oh when of me?

  • waiting-sit

    i waiting-sit the grove
    clearing deadfall in tree
    snow wash of weary
    i waiting-sit the tree

    stolen wind whispers
    hush now, hush
    stone carved stone
    at edging double bottom
    falling

    i waiting-sit the tree
    grove me mud of bone
    kissed blood a’washing
    i waiting-sit alone