Crow in the Courtyard

The crow in the courtyard is watching the shadows from high on the wall
It’s twilight: the time of two lights, then no light at all
Betrayal’s a candle that burns through two lives we no longer know
But we didn’t light it, we tell ourselves, lost in its glow

When the time of two lights is one darkness
The stars burn like candles above
& the look in your eyes
is a look of surprise
at what you’re capable of

The crow in the courtyard is watching the shadows
The shadows are watching us all
As we fall

The fox in the alley’s patrolling the dark as if lonely & lost
The invisible ink of his tracks & our footsteps have crossed
The crow from the courtyard has flown from his wall to the wire up above
Unseen in the darkness, he watches with something like love

The blackness of crow feathers calls me
To swim in their darkness and drown
But the light in his eyes
Shows no sign of surprise
As he ruffles his wings & looks down

His station’s a place safely distant
He knows & remembers each face
That passes beneath
Branch, banner, or wreath
Preparing to run or give chase

The crow in the courtyard is watching the shadows
The shadows are watching us all
As we fall toward impossible twilight

The fox in the dark is patrolling the byways
Where lovers don’t want to be found
But one day we’ll put all this behind us

The crow in the courtyard thinks we are the shadows
Unworthy of watching at all
As we turn to the kindling & firelight
& fall…