u/Jean780

The night I died (poem)

I remember…
The night I died
So vivid
So clear

I had danced near my grave
Many times o’er
But this was the night
Yes THIS was the night

I had fallen into her cold fingers
I had dived into the river
I had begun to wash the blood
Off mine own clothes

But death saw me
And she didn’t take me
Instead she held me
And Made a promise to keep

For I,
A child
Would be reborn as a raven
To fly above the world I had known

For clarity and insight
To beckon my soul
And I too
Made a promise

That I would answer her call
To pick up my wounded and aching soul
And draw my strength from the earth
Then join in battle once again

For I would be victorious
As on the night I died
I rose again
As a warrior in heart

That, Though laden
I would embrace a battle
And form a new path
Beyond that grave I had oft visited

Since the night I died…
I am reborn
As Jean
Nothing lesser
And so much more

I still am processing this even happened and I’m sure there’s many a folk who wouldn’t believe me, and while I hate people calling me a liar, but I have to write this down before it keeps me up much more tonight.

So my city holds a “moonwalk” tonight. Which is a 5K during the dark (partly to avoid the heat). I came to the park early (around 5:30-6 to help set up the finish line). I had originally misjudged where we were meeting so around 6 I rode my scooter slowly down the path looking for where the lights to untangle could be.

As I was riding down I noticed to the left of me a police officer was going behind the bathrooms. I wondered if he was there for the event as this was a city run event. I stopped after I passed the bathrooms to see two other police talking to this group of people. It was then I cast my eyes elsewhere to find where the set up could be. It was then I found a pile of things set down to the right. I realized this was where we were supposed to meet as someone untangled the lights.

I began to walk over as I heard a voice behind me boom “Hey! Stop!”

I stopped.

Thoughts rushed through my mind worried if I was in trouble. I couldn’t tell if he was talking to me due to the glare of the sun behind him.

Again I heard “If you don’t stop I’m going to have to put you in handcuffs!” I looked down the park to see a figure I couldn’t quite make out running along the parks cinder block wall.

I moved my eyes back towards the police officer to see he was now moving towards me out of breath.

Then he asked, “Can I use your scooter?”

It was then I connected he was chasing that man, and I could help him. I million thoughts ran through my mind, all consisting of relief, paranoia, confusion, and surprise.

With little time to think I said “Uhh… yeah…sure!” Then I quickly changed to scooter from 1st to 3rd gear so he could ride faster.

He said thank you.

I just said “be safe.”

I watched him speed past with slight anxiety in my gut. What if he didn’t return it? It is my dad’s scooter after all.

But also a what the hell just happened? Did it happen? Did I hallucinate it? But… I mean the scooter isn’t here now…

As I took my helmet off my head confirming that it was indeed there I heard a woman’s voice ring “that was like straight out of a movie!” It was the women untangling the lights.

“I know!” I replied. “My parents are not going to believe me!” I walked over relieved that someone else witnessed it and I began to help her untie the lights.

Some time passed, although not as much as I would have expected when I saw the same police officer riding the scooter back. I walked over relieved to see it back.

He handed it off to me even stating “You have done a great service to the city,” which is so cliche I have to wonder if he rehearsed on his ride back or if I hallucinated it.

I just said, “of course… thank you for returning it.”

He said something I missed perhaps a return thank you and I stated again, “yeah, thanks for bringing it back, it’s actually my dad’s so…” my voice trailed off and we went our separate ways.

Now I realize as I write this, it didn’t even occur to me to ask what the incident was about or if he even caught the guy. My silly brain was more focused on what the hell just happened and how cliche it was that I didn’t think of much else.

Anyways I’m not sure if anyone will believe me on Reddit of all places, but I needed somewhere to record this as I have lost my chaos journal.

If you got this far. Thank you. I hope I at least gave you a good laugh like I gave my parents when I got home. I also wrote this on the phone so forgive the poor grammar, spelling and formatting please.

Raven’s Peak
These are the hills I call my home. If you decide to hike the ridge that overlooks the city, you will be greeted by many views. One of the city, one of the hills, and one I call Raven’s Peak. It is a higher hill that is very difficult to get to the top of, and at sunset, much like other places inhabited by corvids in this town, they engage in their nightly ritualistic flying. Every time it is magickal.
I first discovered their flying a few years ago as I’d ride my bike by the creek. It is in part to this that ravens and crows signify a new beginning for me.
Ph, how beautiful that the birds of death at dusk signifying another end, only for the sun to rise later, inevitably bringing about a new beginning. For there is no beginning without an ending, no dawn without dusk, and no life without death.
That is what the peak means to me.

https://preview.redd.it/o9e3kez0ei6h1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=603395e408ff365019cc06ca26c09f125b108b3c

Raven’s Peak
These are the hills I call my home. If you decide to hike the ridge that overlooks the city, you will be greeted by many views. One of the city, one of the hills, and one I call Raven’s Peak. It is a higher hill that is very difficult to get to the top of, and at sunset, much like other places inhabited by corvids in this town, they engage in their nightly ritualistic flying. Every time it is magickal.
I first discovered their flying a few years ago as I’d ride my bike by the creek. It is in part to this that ravens and crows signify a new beginning for me.
Ph, how beautiful that the birds of death at dusk signifying another end, only for the sun to rise later, inevitably bringing about a new beginning. For there is no beginning without an ending, no dawn without dusk, and no life without death.
That is what the peak means to me.