I'm looking forward for this week's entry to be dead and buried in the backpages of Hive.

HaHa! I get it!

I will wonder about the merits of the raven. It would help with the dark/light binary operating in the piece; particularly in its throne of beauty.

That's what I sensed when the image of the raven came to mind. Perhaps because he is already so freighted with meaning, whereas a wren has remained rather untroubled.

I don't know, I can't help the association of the raven and Poe, not sure I'd have been able to move on from that - unless there was the opportunity to borrow the rhyme of his piece - nevermore.

Oh yes, very difficult to break away from a strong association, I agree, in fact I'm not sure if I was subconsciously thinking of Poe, because indeed, "nevermore" is really catchy.

Good luck and inspiration with the new challenge!