This track emerged from a poem Jo wrote in the Old Cemetery of the small town where she lives. She writes a monthly piece on the wildflowers and trees there for the local Herald and also records it each month for the East Shropshire Talking Newspaper for people who are visually impaired. She is compiling a poetry trail around the Old Cemetery to encourage more people to visit and reflect in the space there. This poem features the crow family that sit in the old cherry tree on each visit. Jo imagines them sitting over the graves and presiding over the lives that have been lived throughout history. Jo wanted Rick to read the poem as hearing her words in another voice allows Jo to become a listener too. The accompaniment is made by Jo hammering the tune on the strings and tapping out the rhythm on the body of the guitar.

Lyrics

Crow sits black in the cherry tree. Silent because he holds  the thread of golden light Knows that the sky is full of stars As bright and startling as the sun Each one a story in the making

Some tell of heroes and villains Some of magic and mystery Some of tragedy and trials  Or happily ever afters Journeys of tales map the night sky It is full of stories like ours A rich collection of sagas

We weave them across the heavens As those who now lie in the earth did once too Shooting stars, comets, light trails of colour Each one a show of life ascending And falling, the ebb and the flow

Crow holds the thread tightly, gently Resisting the urge to ‘caw caw’ Keeps his beak on task Carefully now, just a little tug and then look  Another new story begins

You can listen to the album on bandcamp, or purchase it for download or on CD. Also available on Spotify and other streaming platforms.