Halo

The sea rose and fell
The waves were crashing
Thrashing a piece of wood
Against the rocks

The surf took it ashore
A strange stick I found
To pick up and ponder
And turn in my hands

A white raven's skull
Fashioned by time and tide
And its gnarly lines
Furrowed by stone

I put together a halo
Out of pieces of amber
Carved my own marks
With a knife of bone

In the middle of the halo
I placed the raven's skull
Drew wings with charcoal
Painted a bird in ash

The bird took wing and flew
A raven cried in the wind
Images washed away by the sea

Drawn by daylight's quill
Embraced by the woods
In the shadow of the twilight

A sign lingered in my mind
Halo behind my eyes
Picture of amber bright
Glowing with bronze

I put together a halo
Out of pieces of amber
Carved my own marks
With a knife of bone

In the middle of the halo
I placed the raven's skull
Drew wings with charcoal
Painted a bird in ash

I put together a halo
Out of pieces of amber
Carved my own marks
With a knife of bone

In the middle of the halo
I placed the raven's skull
Drew wings with charcoal
Painted a bird in ash