The Raven and the Writing Desk

Haiku variations by Maureen Scott Harris

Ink drawings by Kelley Aitken

Design by Isabel Stukator

The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this, but all he said was,

“Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland

barely awake the writing desk frets and whines caught by raven’s voice

there croaks the raven

here hunkers the waiting desk -

articulation

there croaks the raven

here hunkers the waiting desk –

articulation

my writing desk clowns

before the window – longing

for raven’s rough call

unlike my cluttered desk -

the raven and its clatter

lifting into fl ight

unlike my cluttered desk –

the raven and its clatter

lifting into fl ight

a dream of ravens

skids across the writing desk

into the valley

gleaming wings glint then fl are

raven’s resonant cry breaks

the sullen desk’s silence

from the deserted desk

raucous unruly quorking

as if a raven -

raven - writing desk -

riding thermals in tandem -

hold onto your hats!

where the writing desk

intercepts the raven, bliss-

ful conversation

now the raven is

a tumbling inscription on

my desk’s stunned surface

morning at the desk -

mountains and valley fi nd shape

graphing raven’s drift

indifferent

raven glides above it all

the desk mute

empty desk broods –

raven fl ows along mountains

wings turning white

indifferent

raven glides above it all

the desk mute

raven’s easy soar

shatters the writing desk – look!

valley, mountains, light

barely awake the writing desk frets and whines caught by raven’s voice

The Raven and the Writing Desk was published by JackPine Press in July 2007 in an edition of 75 copies.

This is copy _____

Copyright © Maureen Scott Harris, Kelley Aitken 2007.

The haiku were begun at Banff in 1998 and completed in Toronto in 2005. Thanks to the ravens at Banff, as well as to Don McKay and my colleagues in the Writing Studio 1998. Also to Barry Dempster for his editing and Kelley Aitken for her wonderful drawings and the paper cut on the cover. Isabel Stukator provided the design. – MSH

Cover paper cut designed by Kelley Aitken; cut by Kelley Aitken, Jessica Harris, and Maureen Scott Harris. Binding by Kelley Aitken, Jessica Harris, and Mauren Scott Harris.

Printed in Canada by Sunville Printco Inc., Toronto, Ontario

JackPine Press wishes to acknowledge the fi nancial support of the Saskatchewan Arts Board.

JackPine Press 804 Idylwyld Crescent Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7M 0B2 306-653-0575

www.jackpinepress.comjpp@jackpinepress.com