Nick was a golden child
Loved by a Muse
With many more talents
Than one man could use
But perched on his shoulder
With talons in bone
Was a raven of sorrow
As heavy as stone

Try as he might
The cold weight of that bird
Held him in bondage
And coloured each word
And though his gaze traveled
As high as the stars
The bleak touch of talons
Became prison bars

The call of the music
Was strong in his soul
He shot toward the heavens
His eyes on his goal
But heroes get weary,
And heartache is strong
And few men can conquer
The raven's dark song

He fell in a slumber
And into the earth
The root of a fruit tree
Of infinite worth
And thirty years after
It blossomed and bore
A fruit that is nectar
From skin to the core

The raven of sorrow
Is feeding tonight
On a branch of that fruit tree
And dreaming of flight
But bound to the branches
In sorrow it sings
And the soul of that fruit tree
Has stolen its wings

Look to the stars
Fly to the light
Leave the dark raven
Alone in the night
Soar with your Muses
On shining black wings
Away from the places
Where sorrow still sings