Dream

by Nancy Canyon

A raven danced on the roof last night
He whirled beneath full moon, a white globe
hanging from an invisible thread in the sky.

I climbed a ladder in my sleep, rubbery legs
teetering, heart racing as if falling, leaning
over eaves to spy the wild one.

Raven’s lustrous black wings flung open,
feathers ripped through chill of night air, black
eyes darted, gathered me into the dance.

Like a coin flicked by a child, we spun at the peak,
burning a smoke signal of gratitude to Great Spirit
for carrying sleeping children in his arms.