Author: michael raven

  • Reads — “Flood” by Stephen Baxter

    I’m in the home stretch on this hard science-fiction novel of the peri-apocalypse and I think the biggest takeaway so far is…

    I’m not the target audience for science-fiction novels of the peri-apocalypse, hard science or otherwise.

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  • at the wytching tree

    this chronic river
    flawing through
    is a stoning earned
    for the time cast 
    down drunk at
    the wytching tree

    there is no care
    for these secrets 
    that might be shared
    those left to die here
    in the wee hours down
    at the wytching tree

  • casting runes — 22oct25

    othala
    under the cloak
    the patterns burn
    all the more clear

    slip to the well
    and dive, emerge
    in the lands
    under the sea

    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.

  • on the wind

    "throw your head away
    and let branches replace
    the empty left behind",
    said the acorn man

    so
    we gathered round
    and grew old,
    apple blossoms
    on the wind

  • New Moon

    I will drift the forest behind blind eyes with her, just as she came, here on the new moon this morn. A new year, come ten days on the loom, rides her night tresses too. Time to wrap root and gather low, gather deep, and gather below. Gather, then, and keen no more.

    If you knew me, you would understand — but I stand alone, unknown. I am wing and I am thorn, that is the best I can explain.

    But when she comes, we gather: wrapping root and pricking low.

  • to the turning within

    Photo by Trent Pickering on Unsplash
    as the nights slip
    cauldron to stone
    from wave to cold
    we turn to the 
    turning within

    spirits on the wander
    gather 'round the flames
    dancing, spinning, yearning
    as they give to the
    turning within

    let all our debt burn away
    as we turn to the
    turning within

  • slight rebellion

    tossing the tethers, ropes
    tying to dock and pier
    letting current carry away

    adrift and slipping away
    spinning in eddies away
    never wanting to arrive

    never to, never arrive

  • our lady of crows

    our lady of crows
    waits above the ford
    will you bed her at river
    should she bid you?
    be she maiden or crone?
    she waits on her lover,
    our lady of crows

    have you come to
    collect waters issued of
    our lady of crows?
    to reap on the harvest,
    as gifted bounty of
    our lady of crows?
    or have you come to
    enjoin at frenzy and fury
    of our lady of crows?

  • her narrows standing

    i wait on dreams
    of her fountainhead,
    at her narrows standing

    flow her water, oak & ash
    hazel & blackthorn sharp,
    at her narrows standing

    wait upon gold & rust
    for rime & without reason,
    at her narrows standing

    long the night i belong
    set to slumber underground,
    at her narrows standing

  • Reading progress — 19oct25

    Since deciding to take up reading at the end of August whenever I feel compelled to scroll on the internet, pick up a video game for distraction purposes, or give in to the statement, “I’m bored”, I’ve managed to knock out twelve books which amounts to what is just shy of 5000 pages, by Goodreads’ account. That includes an audiobook that I finished during that time (I include audiobooks as “reading”, because I largely listen to them while driving, and this one would only contribute about 300 pages to my total).

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