Raven Poem by gershon hepner

Like a raven at my window with a broken wing
I see you standing, and I start to howl,
because there are no words that I can bring
to mind, and all that I can say is “Foul”.

You are embodied in the silence where
I cannot hear you speak. You used to sing,
but now I see you frozen in the air,
incredulous that there will come a spring.

You seem to judge the world, and do not wink
at me to indicate you realize
that walls of silence ought to have a chink
through which one can communicate with eyes.

Outside it is freezing, and love that’s minus zero
endangers my own heart, just as it endangers your own,
yet it is so frigid I cannot be your hero,
however hard I try by by e-mail and by phone.

I'm just an urban doctor and I ramble
and do not seek perfection, but remain
quite certain that you grief will soon unscramble,
and you with loving wings will fly again.

Inspired by Bob Dylan’s song, LOVE MINUS ZERO/NO LIMIT

My love she speaks like silence,
Without ideals or violence,
She doesn't have to say she's faithful,
Yet she's true, like ice, like fire.
People carry roses,
Make promises by the hours,
My love she laughs like the flowers,
Valentines can't buy her.

In the dime stores and bus stations,
People talk of situations,
Read books, repeat quotations,
Draw conclusions on the wall.
Some speak of the future,
My love she speaks softly,
She knows there's no success like failure
And that failure's no success at all.

The cloak and dagger dangles,
Madams light the candles.
In ceremonies of the horsemen,
Even the pawn must hold a grudge.
Statues made of match sticks,
Crumble into one another,
My love winks, she does not bother,
She knows too much to argue or to judge.

The bridge at midnight trembles,
The country doctor rambles,
Bankers' nieces seek perfection,
Expecting all the gifts that wise men bring.
The wind howls like a hammer,
The night blows cold and rainy,
My love she's like some raven
At my window with a broken wing.

7/22/08