MC BRIDE, EDWARD ERNEST (MAJ/Air Force) HATTIESBURG, MS.
 

Poem  written by Mike Cavanaugh in 1970

Dedicated to Hoss McBride
      a dead dead Raven
 

CRY OF THE RAVEN

Death is always close, even beautiful
Expected, demanded and commanded
Death of the Viets, the Popa Limas,
The Meos, the Lao, the innocent, the guilty
Whoever, wherever, whenever
It's all followed by a "nevermore"
The cry of the Raven

The burning earth, trees and karst
Have a certain smell of death, almost beautiful
A death sometimes brought by the four horsemen
The Zorro, the Hobo, the Firefly, and Sandy
Unlikely men and machines one war late, one prophesy early
Often, explosively, expectantly dying themselves
Joining the death in a cry of "nevermore"

Strange birds circling overhead, too high and graceful for battle
A Mallard, a Crow, a Vampire, and a Hornet
From such places as Oakland, Detroit, Denver, and Newark
Waiting for direction from the Raven, unaware, untouched, and unbelieving
Likely men and machines, one war early, one prophesy late
Obediently following the cry of the Raven
Hit my smoke if you can or return "nevermore"

The Raven flying always when and where others cannot
Never fast, never high, but always watching, always knowing
Death is waiting for the Raven but would be executioners fear death themselves
As if Edgar knew the cry of the Raven would continue "nevermore"
 

Mike Cavanaugh
    Raven 48