Ten Black Ravens

©

Ten Black Ravens


Ten black ravens
Sitting on a line
One flew off
And then there were nine

Nine black ravens
Looking for a mate
One found a lover
And then there were eight

Eight black ravens
Bound for hell and heaven
One found a soul to take
And then there were seven

Seven black ravens
Decide to play some tricks
One transformed into a man
And then there were six

Six black ravens 
Barely left alive
One got deathly ill
And then there were five

Five black ravens
Cried out nevermore
One went a-knocking 
And then there were four

Four black ravens
Perched on hangman's tree
One got tangled in the rope
And then there were three

Three black ravens
With nothing left to do
One fed upon a knight
And then there were two

Two black ravens
Playing with Odin's son
One forgot to come home again
And then there was one

One black raven
Knowing night was done
Went off to greet the sunrise
And then there were none


Words: ©2017LCR
Image: ©Lindsey Kustusch, All Rights Remain with Original Artist
Linked to: Poet's United - Poetry Pantry #497

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Comments

  1. Mary20 October 2019 at 13:07

    Well THAT was really fun! Your poem made me smile.

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    Replies
    1. Lori20 October 2019 at 14:04

      Thank you so much. I had fun writing it too! :)

      Delete
  2. Sherry Blue Sky20 October 2019 at 13:16

    This was a fun read, though the poor ravens were not having an easy time. LOL.

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  3. brudberg20 October 2019 at 15:05

    I really like this.. and of course it reminds me of the poem in the Agatha Christie's Novel "and then there were none" which has the poem ten little Indians.

    Ten little Indian boys went out to dine;
    One choked his little self and then there were nine.
    Nine little Indian boys sat up very late;
    One overslept himself and then there were eight.
    Eight little Indian boys traveling in Devon;
    One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.
    Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks;
    One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
    Six little Indian boys playing with a hive;
    A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
    Five little Indian boys going in for law;
    One got in Chancery and then there were four.
    Four little Indian boys going out to sea;
    A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
    Three little Indian boys walking in the zoo;
    A big bear hugged one and then there were two.
    Two Little Indian boys sitting in the sun;
    One got frizzled up and then there was one.
    One little Indian boy left all alone;
    He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.

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    Replies
    1. Lori20 October 2019 at 15:33

      Yes! That is the exact poem I was thinking about when I wrote it. Except instead of Indians it became Ravens and their legends and mythology woven through it. My homage to children's counting rhymes.

      Delete
  4. Vivian Zems20 October 2019 at 15:21

    What a charming poem! :-)

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  5. colleen20 October 2019 at 15:28

    I love this in the 'wish I wrote it' kind of way. I love the surprises and nursery rhyme rhythm.

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    Replies
    1. Lori20 October 2019 at 15:37

      Thank you so much! That is a compliment indeed!

      Delete
  6. Truedessa20 October 2019 at 16:42

    I enjoyed your tale of 10 ravens and I find rhymes delightful.

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  7. Ron.20 October 2019 at 17:33

    Wonderful work, Lori! I didn't want the countdown to end. Salute!
    You might enjoy this: https://wordpress.com/posts/rlavalette.wordpress.com?s=drip

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lori20 October 2019 at 19:03

      Thank you! (I keep trying the link but it keeps asking me to sign up for an account? What is the title of the post and I'll look it up)

      Delete
    2. Ron.21 October 2019 at 15:01

      Sorry. It's called "On A Wire". Find it HERE: https://rlavalette.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/on-a-wire/

      Delete
    3. Lori21 October 2019 at 21:05

      Ok! Found it!

      Delete
  8. tonispencer20 October 2019 at 18:02

    What a fun take on the counting rhyme @

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  9. Sanaa Rizvi20 October 2019 at 19:22

    This is incredibly stunning!

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  10. H. Hennenburg20 October 2019 at 20:01

    Really fun to read. I found myself anticipating what would happen to the next raven and looking forward to the rhyme.

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  11. Carrie Van Horn20 October 2019 at 20:21

    This is a wonderful write Lori! I absolutely love it!!

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  12. Rosemary Nissen-Wade21 October 2019 at 00:25

    I loved this. It read as if you were recounting an already existing mythology or folk rhyme.

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    Replies
    1. Lori21 October 2019 at 09:08

      Thank you! I think there's quite a few variations of this theme.

      Delete
  13. dsnake121 October 2019 at 01:12

    They should teach your poem in school! If they don't mind the little dark parts. :)

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  14. J Cosmo Newbery21 October 2019 at 05:28

    Can I read that to my grandchildren?

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    Replies
    1. Lori21 October 2019 at 09:10

      I would think so. Children's literature is strewn with dark stories.

      Delete
  15. Jae Rose21 October 2019 at 06:42

    I love this - like a really good legend

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  16. ©misspoetmiki21 October 2019 at 18:11

    Fantastic, Lori!! This one I liked so much:

    Seven black ravens
    Decide to play some tricks
    One transformed into a man
    And then there were six

    I wonder where the man went! lol

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    Replies
    1. Lori21 October 2019 at 21:03

      Lol! I wonder the same thing and whether he longs to be a Raven again!

      Delete

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