One morning in September
the augury crow was silent
as if wordlessly saying
something crucially essential.
He was perched on the sil
of the third window
counting from the northeast
corner of the library.
The librarian’s heartbeat
rose as behind the black
curtains of that window was
a sealed room of ancient scrolls.
He unlocked the doors
to see what the crow had seen,
It have once been told,
that silence of the crows
would mean the lifting of veils
and deciphering of codes
would untangle words
revealing vellum secrets
in manuscripts hidden in
the shelves where secrets die,
but as he entered the room,
three times the crow cawed.
So, despite the signs, the stars
aligned, the windblown tales
would stay within the shadows
until again the crow stay silent.
Jan Mankes
Today Lisa hosts dVerse Poetics with a prompt about Semiotics, or signs. We can do it in many ways, maybe we have received a sign ourselves, or we can take a myth or even as I tried to do, write a poem from our own fantasy.
September 12, 2023
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I love the ominous feel of this and the details of the color black sand the number three. And I like how the universe seems to conspire to keep its secrets hidden in that room in the library at the end.
I thought the library would be a good place for signs and omens
I was very tempted to write a poem about crows, but I changed my mind. I love your augury crow haunting the aged librarian, Björn, which reminds me a tiny bit of Poe’s raven. I smiled at the lines:
‘the augury crow was silent
as if wordlessly saying
something crucially essential’
and was intrigued by the sealed room of ancient scrolls and the crow cawing three times. And yes, the library is an apt place for signs and omens.
I thought it was fun to bring it back to the library too…
The library is essential!
Bjorn, you have tingles crawling up my scalp with your poem. If you have the esoteric training you can tap in to the signs that swirl around us. In your fantasy, The Aged Librarian clearly is. Excellent spell-weaving.
Thank you… there is magic there somewhere
You’re welcome.
What a great story. The poor librarian, I could sense his dismay but it was so lyrical and I enjoyed the pace.
Very mysterious & ominous… love the enjambment! 🙂
No better setting!
I agree with Ron!
~David
I like the idea of an absence of sound (the silence of crows) could be a sign.
A very mysterious poem Björn. Enjoyed your omnious mood
Much🖤love
Great to see the old librarian once again, checking out the sign of the crows’ silence!
Wow, this is so moody and sends shivers. A wonderful write, I can picture it all so vividly. 🙂
So atmospheric…and just like Crow, who always leaves us riddled. (K)
throughout there is the sense of Poe with the crow
A bit less menacing with the humble crow versus the raven…
Always listen to the crow.
Though, at least the librarian saw the crow. One might anticipate a change. Maybe he turns the library into a discoteque. 😊
That would be a disaster though there might those who prefers dancing to reading.
Björn, this is fabulous, fascinating subject, it reminded me of Poe’s Raven
Yes, Bjorn, the birds have it. Like a weather forecaster, each has a different message. I’ll take the mockingbird, they are smart enough to mimic me with a morning song. Good news has been forecast from roof top to roof top.
..
Fascinating and mysterious tale, Bjorn!