The Raven Man (or Journal of the Plague Year)

They follow me in the streets
The hands pull at my sleeves
They wake me from my sleep
Crying: Mister, help us please

I'm the Raven man
I do what I can
I cut them, and I bleed them
I kneel and pretend to pray

I sit with them through the dying hour
And see their lives slip away
I'm the raven man
I do what I can

This time last year, he was running in the field
Fighting with the older boys, commanding them to yield
Laughing with his friends, at some, foolish thing he'd done
I remember how his golden hair outshone the morning sun

Why don't you all just shut up?
Go home, leave me alone
There's nothing more I can do
But watch you weep and moan

Yes, I'll come with you
I'll do what I can
I'm the raven man
I do what I can