Odin's Own Goes Home

Early morning and I was getting out of my parked car at work when I heard a loud rustling in the tree just above me. A crow was hanging completely upside down from a branch, wings half-outstretched. Just as I moved closer to see if he was caught in something, he tumbled down through the branches and landed at my feet in a heap on the pavement. He was on his back, panting heavily, eyes closed. Maybe he was just stunned from the fall, I thought. Before I could think again, I'd gently scooped him up, cradling his curled back in my palm, surprised by the richness of purple-blue feathers – not exactly black, after all - along the white of my arm. He was the weight of a single heavy sigh. I carried him over to a safer, more shaded spot in the grass. He let out a small whimper as I gingerly turned him over and laid him on his stomach in the grass, trying to make sure his feet and wings were laying comfortably, then went into the office for some water to leave next to him in case he recovered himself. When I got back, he was still panting, more gently now. Clearly, he was dying. My heart reached toward him with a simple blessing for his life and his cross over - to wherever our energy goes. Gold-dusted sun filtered down through pine needles and small, bright yellow, oval leaves in the grass all around him stood out against his darkness. He blinked so slowly. I hoped it was a good place for him to take his leave.

Crows, I hear, live in all time at once, so maybe he always knew this part would look like this; a wild-maned woman - heart soft with her own grief, surrender, wonder, hope - dripping water from her finger-tips on his notched and scarred onyx beak.

I'm not sure if a crow falling out of a tree in front of a person in its final moments is an omen, but my sense is that opening a day with a startlingly peculiar, hallowed crossing can’t portend anything too terrible. Only, perhaps, tender acceptance and the reminder that every death is a transformation, a doorway, a page turn. So many strange things in my path lately and I look for meaning and signs everywhere.