scream funerary screams
I run to see
stare up into the bare branches of a sunset tree fruited with grieving crows
I look for a body
I don't see a body
CRACK
a sound resonates from the house with the yard with tree of grieving crows
they take to the air
the crows
circle and yell and come back for the funeral
I still can't see the body
I round the corner for a better view
CRACK
that sound again
a tiny explosion
what is it?
and then
the bird
the body
the fall
the limp wings
the lifeless plummet to the earth below
my screams of rage
first reaction
I run toward the yard where the crow fell
stop
I can't
someone has a gun
I run toward the door of the house where I heard the sound
stop
I can't
someone has a gun
I have to protect the crows
clap!
yell!
FLY AWAY
they continue to scream
no
stop yelling
look up
repeat the image of the falling crow with a message of death in my mind
they hear me
they leave
all of them
at once.
...
I am numb.
...
Why can't I feel?
the falling body
the falling body
the calm and tranquil mind
It is illegal to kill crows
I call the police
second reaction
the calm and tranquil mind speaks
with prizewinning influence
but they've never had a call like this before
I didn't see who did it
they'll see what they can do
my legs carry me up the hill
my arms carry a little dog
whose neck carries my wet hot sobs
the third reaction
I am so weak
I want to go back
collect the bodies
can't walk
can't make it home
can't make it home
I find the park
find a dark corner
the searing sword of devastation cuts into my throat
I sway and whimper
gasp and moan
someone's child
someone's partner
someone's parent
someone's friend
strength finds me
and brings me home
home to my bed of snot choke scream writhe powerless helpless grief
...
the crow falls
over and over
forever
...
Lorena
Bo
Junior
Lod
Baby Biggie
This really happened. All of it.
This is my fourth reaction.
This is my pain.
This shouldn't have happened.
But it did.
And you need to know.
Everything in this post and (and all of my other posts) is mine (unless otherwise stated) and can't be used by anyone else unless I say it's ok.