The RavenWatching with a baleful eyeA black scavenger,Sentinel of the skyLooking for a weakness,Looking for a chanceLooking for an error,Young lovers, caught up in the danceWith a shriek and a pounce,He seizes on his preyAnd another newborn babyIs safely stole awayLurking in the darknessClutching a branch so coldRaven has the desperation of youthAnd the sour wisdom of the oldIn spite of all the raucous noiseIn the end he is aloneAnd when I look out through his eyesI can see why he is so boldFor the world is a big and empty placeAnd the nights get very cold. Louis Shalako is the founder of Long Cool One Books and the author of twenty-four novels, numerous novellas and other short stories. Louis studied Radio, Television and Journalism Arts at Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology, later going on to study fine art. He began writing for community newspapers and industrial magazines over thirty years ago. His stories appear in publications including Perihelion Science Fiction, Bewildering Stories, Aurora Wolf, Ennea, Wonderwaan, Algernon, Nova Fantasia, and Danse Macabre. He lives in southern Ontario and writes full time. Louis enjoys cycling, swimming and good books.
