The Crow's Trust

Perched upon an old dead branch I see a crow

sleek black feathers glisten an iridescent purple

Peering down at me with dark piercing eyes

head turned in a curious stare

as if studying me, a human, and debating my trust

It remains there patient observing me and the world beneath it

With no further thought, I ignore the crow and turn my back

though as the crow was curious of me,

my curiosity of it has emerged as well

But when I look upon the old dead branch

the crow has flown away

The day has come and gone

and now the next brand new

My eyes wander as I take in my surroundings

just like the crow's I saw yesterday

And then I see it, perched upon the same dead branch

watching me once again with curious eyes

The crow never stays long

as if knowing when it's visit has been overstayed

As the days grow hot, I leave fresh water out,

a dish of food for the crow

Day after day the crow returns perched on that same dead branch

I can only wonder what it's thinking

What it has judged about me

The crow now stays longer, gaining my trust further

so much so, it now caws for my attention

And then one day before it leaves, the crow drops something by my feet

It glisten a shiny silver

an earring

Otherwise ordinary and not worth another glance

I pick it up in marvel

My gaze turns to the old dead branch

And there's the crow staring down at me

watching my response

before parting once again

I grasp the stray earring close

cherishing it like a rare gem

promising a safe place for it

honored to receive a gift from a crow