Terri L. French

Thought and Memory

I watch from the window as the two ravens peck at a handful of dry dog food I’ve left for them on a flat rock. Mostly the larger of the two—the male I assume—is pecking, the smaller stands next to him, her head cocked, as if to say, “Hey, you gonna leave me any?” He starts to strut away and she quickly snatches the last couple of pieces.

They were our welcoming crew yesterday as we pulled the RV into a spot between two monolithic boulders at City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico. First circling the campsite several times, then swooping in to land  on top of one of the boulders. The pair lingered for a while, preening as we sat up camp. I thought I should leave them an offering, a token of friendship, hence the kibble. Now, I find myself glancing up at the clear blue sky several times a day to see if the ravens are near, and feel my heart soar when I spot them somersaulting over the dry grass and spiny cacti filling the expanse with their echoing kraa … kraa.

desert rain
a hummingbird sips
from the ocotillo

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Note: In Norse mythology, Huginn (“thought” in Old Norse) and Muninn (“memory” or “mind”) are a pair of ravens that fly around the world and bring information to the god Odin.

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About the Author

Terri L. French is a poet/writer and retired Massage Therapist. She and her husband, Ray, have four mostly grown children and one spoiled dog. They now enjoy the nomadic life of full-time RVers.

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