i listened to the singing

crows

wondering where their wings might

wend them today

as i walked on river stones

sunlight bathing my skin

delicately;

circling above

they always followed

and i wondered what they were trying

to tell me

or if they were inviting me to fly

with them;

maybe they could sense that my soul

is a raven

wishing to spread her wings and fly

against the clouds and the sky

with them—

maybe they knew i am always terrified

of being completely alone

and so they gave

me the company of their feathers and songs

because music always tames

the roughest edges

of my soul.