Raised By Wolves, Restrained Rejoicing - by Eric Franklin Crow

I feel
Somehow raised by wolves
The family that took root
When my other disappeared
And the tribe I had
I had to walk icy mountains
Of solitary fire
To get to where they were

Something they saw in me
Must have been beautiful to them
And they came to visit one day
And took their place
Beside my table
They drove me
Into their bosom
And made me grow
Into one of their pack

I took their bread
And they my time
I took their love
And they my grace
They tried my patience
And I theirs
They built me up
I tempered them down
They drove me crazy
And I drove them away

I was unaware
That I would ever come back
But here I am
And it's not like I never went away
But it's not like I ever left
I feel something
Stirring in my eyes
Restrained rejoicing
I don't necessarily feel tears coming on
But there is something there
Something in my eyes...

©2009 Eric Franklin Crow

(About this verse: I recently rejoined a community of people I had become estranged with/distanced myself from, and am now looking back on how I first came to be in their presence. I know what my view of the forest is, and that hasn't changed, but I also have admiration for many things in the forest, that I unwittingly sacrificed by leaving.)

eaglebear4839 said:

Absolutely beautiful Eric!

eaglebear4839 said:

I like this a lot! it sounds song-like it would make a great song. I admire your frankness with regard to your predicament and feelings. I suspect, like me, you have had strong people in your vision ... a lovely song.

thanks 2elijah and syble. Reading Frankenstein and was inspired. Also had not such a good day, so your comments are like hugs. Still, the predicament is a beautiful predicament. Song lyrics, hmmm...I can think of the track they would go to. Stay tuned...

eaglebear4839 said:

Yes, you can definitely feel the emotion in it. In reading it, you take the reader on that journey with you, so to speak. Good job.

Here's the next verse:

Where Is This Place?

kind words
spoken to the
as
yet
unnamed
creature emotion
were like
hugs
which welled up
inside me
and rushed from my eyes
syncopated in their
release.
with fertility
they saturated the soil
and caused
new blossoms to grow
up
from
the heavens.
where is this place?

©2009 Eric Franklin Crow

(This poem, first written in 1994, has been included in several of my collections. It is one of those poems that has followed me and will follow me. I also find it fitting to include this here in this spot, because of what I'm studying in Humanities class.)

Flickering Candle - by Eric Franklin Crow

On a rainy afternoon
Looking out across the sky
Sitting in the midst of solitude
Tall mountain towering high

My mind goes wandering far,
And as thoughts pass through
One idea suddenly appears
Growing wild in bright blue

Then, from this brief insight
Comes a brilliant question:
What consciousness will arise
From the Quest for One?

As a single candle illustrates
The twilight mostly past
And as the motion of night
Will predict enclosure fast

I find the rare occasion
When not a sound I hear
Except the flickering candle
Balancing out my every fear

I feel no pain of any kind,
Nor anger, grief or anxiety
Hypnotized by the candle's flame
I cling to what I see

And it shows me no separation,
No disorder, no exhibition
This solace is easy and graceful
I marvel inside this condition

A breeze suddenly awakens me
How long have I been asleep?
Through the gentle of my smile
This precious moment I will keep.

©1994, 2001, 2004, 2009 Eric Franklin Crow

eaglebear4839 said:

Nice reminds me of feeling of the "peace" within.
[Edited 2/21/09 10:08am]

2elijah said:

I wrote this originally when I was writing a lot of rhyme verse/song lyrics, and I put it in the list for possible lyrics or spoken verse to include on my next CD (either in the music directly or as interludes.) I think I feel more confident as a writer and as a composer to go there.