Five Ravens

They perched atop the old scruffy pine tree...the garbage truck comes once a week and cripples the barely healed limbs at the bottom. There were five...five ravens. At least one must have been a female....the playful mounting and fluttering reminded me of a party in 1973.

I thought it strange that there were five. Five is my number.....born on 2, 12,1955. 2+1+2=5. 1+9=10......another two fives makes it five, fives. Tommy....my first name, has five letters.

Ravens have always made me wonder if they carry spirits....like doves. Do they carry spirits into the darkness? Do doves carry spirits into the light?

A million things swirled in my mind that day....as the ravens entertained me for a few moments. Shortly after.....looking out my window....a morning dove and four sparrows were perched on a power line. I wish I could read nature. Maybe my soul does...I am simply not aware.

I left that evening to meet with a business man. I was previously employed at a location that he had just purchased. He needed to know information about the building. On my way....I sipped my iced tea. I always take a glass of tea when I drive...I'm such a creature of habit. I saw a fat Jesus walking on the side of the road. He looked as if he'd already walked miles. He looked worn and thirsty.

I wanted to whip the car around...pull over and give him a drink of my tea. I didn't. I thought of the ravens.....the five ravens in the pine tree. Was there a sad angel writing in my book as the demons giggled? Will I...someday...be the fat Jesus who is thirsty...walking past a man with a cold drink who is too busy...thinking of birds?

Was there a message to me in the five ravens? Was there a message in the dove and four sparrows? Will five ravens carry my soul to the darkness? Will a dove and four sparrows carry my spirit back to God? I've never feared the darkness...nor worshipped the light. I am numb to the blabbing brothels of religion.

Maybe...just maybe...sometime throughout eternity....I will sit with the same fat Jesus of that day and play a game of checkers beneath an old scruffy pine tree, filled with ravens, doves and sparrows. I will offer him a drink of my tea. As the birds play and sing....he will say,"Thank you Tommy....King me."