About

Why did I name this blog, Crow on the Wire?

l had a long lapse of creative inactivity that made me bored and dissatisfied. Then eight years ago, I took a big risk–sold my house, left a good job, and packed a few things into my Prius (including my pretty girlfriend, eventually to become my wife). I moved from cold Philadelphia to sunny Santa Barbara via a five-day, cross-country road trip. Once in California, my creative juices began to bubble up again. The creative muse was triggered by a band of crows that gathered outside my Santa Barbara apartment at 5:30 a.m. every morning. Many people would view these sturdy corvids as an annoyance or pest, but I instantly took them as a blessing, a good omen. They sat in the trees and on the utility wires and the sound of their caws and cries perked my curiosity.

I believe that the crows were there for me in a symbolic way. They woke me up to the world and encouraged me to stop going through life sleepwalking with a career that I had lost passion for (psychotherapy). It was the crows that made me want to explore the world from a different angle, one of more compassion and sensitivity.

The crows seem to have a more interesting perspective of humanity than we do, seeing the world from the treetops, the roofs of houses, and the utility lines.  They observe our quirky nature, our strengths and weaknesses without judging us.

My creative voice is the evidence of my existence on this planet.  Enjoy my poetry, stories, and pictures. Comment as much as you like.   Peace from the wire, Mark.

For more on my connection to crows, read my article, Meditation on Crow, in the elephant journal.

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All of my poems and stories are copyrighted as well as some of the pictures. They cannot be used without my consent.

Please support this site by purchasing my two poetry books that are now available, Awkward Grace and Magical Yogis.  You can also pre-order my book, The Asthmatic Kid and Other Stories. Thank you.