2007 SAMHUINN/BELTANE SHORT POEM ENTRIES

[Earthwoman]

Notice: Please add your original short poems for the current Eisteddfod here. Short poems must be 30 lines or less.

[Hennie]

wrinkles


friendly wrinkles
on an aged face
fear of death

cramping wrinkles
on a crying face
fear of loneliness

wrinkles in time
spirits surface
fear of the unknown

[magma]

WE WALK WITH KINGS


We walk with Kings, in their footsteps we tread
Echoes of tribal pride resound beneath our feet
By these ancient paths our own footsteps are led…

Through wooded shelter and open glade
In clear pools reflecting our own piece of sky
Deep caverns by the tides of time unmade
Across heather alive with Heathcliffe’s cry

We walk with genius, in their footsteps we tread
Their age old thoughts and sounds never retreat
Notes played in a different score the same words re-said…

Through barren flat planes the wind still roars
In voices rich with toil bound with pride, they sing
Deep valleys hide their treasures in archaic stores
Across tendered fields withholding strength within

We walk with heroes, in their footsteps we tread
Pounding over the earth’s reclaimed little boys
Their trinkets and poems – their letters un-read…

Through mud rich in history of joy and of pain
Grow poppies to remember how love empowers
Deep pride and belief will bloom once again
As together we walk through this island of ours



c JB 2007

[pangurban]

The Last Grasp of Autumn

The forests summer green has become
a kaleidoscope of reds, yellows and oranges
as the lifeblood of the trees
slowly drains to their roots, and these great beings
prepare to slumber away another winter.

Soon the winds icy blast will shake loose
these last vestiges of summer,
leaving behind skeletal remains
of branches reaching upward, grasping
as if to bring the suns warmth down.

And in this I am reminded, I too will die.
For this is the autumn of my time here and
winters icy blast will soon chill my bones,
and the winds of time will shake loose
my tentative grasp on this existence.

But this is not a time to mourn, for this death
(that comes to all) is not the end of existence.
For as the tree bursts to life with the coming of spring .
So to will we burst forth renewed, to join again
life's rich tapestry and the circle is once more complete.



pangur-ban 2007

[Twyrch]

This was inspired during my first Water ritual...

Ode to the Waters

You gently ripple through the stream
Are you real or just a dream?
I touch your surface, feel your life
You cleanse my soul, remove my strife

I lift my fingers to my lips
And taste your life upon those tips
Pure and sweet, a precious thing
A simple taste which makes me sing.

I sing of beauty, sing of joy
A song of wonders to employ
You captivate my mind and soul,
You fill me up and make me whole.

[Fiach MacMara]

Autumn's Promise

As I walk along these autumn woods,
the sun reflects from vibrant leaves
a thousand shades of glory
shimmering on cool air.

Balancing on mossy rocks I cross
a plunging stream; then watch it,
tamed, relaxing in a deep
green pool, depositing
its bright red trophies
won by wrestling
wild Dogwoods
in the Hills.

A distant crow's brash call is softened
on the amber air above a ripened
pumpkin field. A brisk wind
takes my arm and hurries
past the Black Gum
raining ruby leaves
down on the
Goldenrod.

Autumn’s brightness displays the
wonder of creation; exalted,
glorious, the fullness
of harvest and
homecoming.

[Flidais]

Summer ends with
Late morning sunrise
trees poke their golden heads
through a white mist blanket

Summer ends with
occasional butterflies
dancing with late flowers
before sleep.

Summer ends with
fallen leaves and sycamore seeds
Dancing a last dance
with an autumn breeze

Summer ends with
conkers in battle
chestnuts roasting
and apples bobbing

Summer ends with
Bonfires blazing
and tales round the fire
of ancestors long since gone

Summer ends in gowns of gold and Red
Diamond encrusted webs
add sparkle to her aging eyes.
One last dance before sleep over takes her
and visions of green fill her dreams.

[Andrea ferch Taliesin]

Although I'm pretty sure that for whatever reason the Goddess wants me to be in Scotland at the moment, my heart aches to be among the Cymraeg. Surely this is what is meant by Hiraeth?

HIRAETH

And so
I will, just once more
Go to the land of my fathers.
From shadow to shadow and into shadow
I shall slip unseen
Into the ancient light
That first stirred my childhood.
That swept me into the land
Of heroes, wizards, gods and goddesses.
That wrecked my soul on the anvil
Of those timeless hills
That have called and called me
In my waking hours.
And filled my dreams
With everlasting hope.
And I shall sit upon that rugged top
That was, to me, both earth and heaven
When my world was new.
And, with the light of one last sunset
In my eyes,
I shall cross
Into the Mabinogion.
And my gods will cradle me
Forever.

[DaRC]

Lunar Meditation
==========
It is a powerful thing
the moon,
knowing that around the world
rising
druids meditate with
pale face
a single focus for all -
peace full.


I conceived this as 3 pomes in 1; I just hope Ogden Nash isn't doing some cthonic rolling :grin:

[Ghostrider]

This one is dedicated to my father, who crossed the veil 3 years ago Oct. 2nd. And Endor, who followed earlier this year.




When the veil is thin…

Our souls are gently touching
And briefly touch the veil
We hear the voices calling
The wondering souls they hail

We look down at my children
Their genes are yours and mine
Their picture and yours, together
Standing on the shrine

We think of all the memories
Of times that we have shared
Of what you wanted for us
And how it is we fared

We briefly sit together
And say our last goodbyes
In my mind I remember
The last look in your eyes

We hear the bark of Endor
Who again sits by your side
And grab eachothers hands
When it’s tears we try to hide

We sigh, it’s time for parting
A hard and dreadfull thing
Perhaps we’ll meet again next year,
When again, the veil is thin.

Bye dad

[Wailand]

Salmon

I sit beside the timeless pool
I see my thoughts ascend
From blackest mud to waving reeds
Countless upward floating seeds
Into the light I send

And there in sparking light I see
The salmon wise and free
A flash of turning silver flank
All sunlit darts beneath the bank
And arching hazel tree

Along your broad brown back
The endless river flows
Through highland peat, and lowland clay
Then leaping through the salty spray
Where no one stays or knows

Unconscious as the dream of night
No net may catch or stay
My bread is on the water cast
To see your light go sailing past
Then turn and slowly walk away

[Abhaill]

MOON PHASE CHANT

Sleep, sleep, o beautiful moon
Deep in your memory keep us
Sleep, sleep, o beautiful moon
Dark is the face you show us

Wake, wake, o beautiful moon
Deep in your memory keep us
Wake, wake, o beautiful moon
Brightening the face you show us

Shine, shine, o beautiful moon
Deep in your memory keep us
Shine, shine, o beautiful moon
Bright is the face you show us

Fade, fade, o beautiful moon
Deep in your memory keep us
Fade, fade, o beautiful moon
Darkening the face you show us

Sleep, sleep, o beautiful moon
Deep in your memory keep us
Sleep, sleep, o beautiful moon
Dark is the face you show us


~ Abhaill

[Arth Seren]

My entry this time comes from way deep down where I am dealing with the hopes and fears surrounding many years of infertility.


My Children


I ache for you,
Body, heart and soul.
You who should be here with me
And are not.
I long for you
Day and night
Year in, year out.
The pain of knowing
That I can’t bring you
Into being in this world
Is almost too much to bear.
I know your souls are there,
Just waiting for your chance
To enter into body and mind,
So that we can share our lives
Our love, our hopes, our fears.
Please don’t give up on me now,
I will find a way to bring you here.
I don’t know how or when,
But I am your mother
And I will not let you down
Because I love you so much.

[kytty]

The Between Time and No Time - Samhuinn

Between time and no time
In darkness and shadow.
Between time and no time
Where the winds of time bellow

Between time and no time
Thoughts of loved ones gather
Between time and no time
Love is all that matters

For between time and no time
Our souls begin to sing
For at time between no time
our hearts are resounding.

Between time and no time
Our thoughts run deep
For at time and no time
Our elders memories we keep

[City Druid]

Recently I took some soil from beneath a willow tree, to help me with my earth ritual,
the tree is quite special to me, so I felt that I should take it back when I had finished with it, I kept it for about a week, this poem is about the feeling I had on the walk back after I took the soil back and gave thanks for the inspiration it gave me




I found you.


Today I gave thanks for the inspiration you gave to me,
Today I got thanks for the respect I gave thee,
Today I found your magic in the darkness of the death of the wood,
Today you reached me in ways I never thought you could,
Today you crept up on me and your currents rippled through my toes,
Today I herd you in the circling of crows, flying high,
Today I found you as the sun broke free from the misty sky,
Today I breathed in you and out of you,
Today I found you as I touched your mossy bark,
Today I found you as I knelt down to pass you and touched your greeting arms,
Today I found you as I trampled through the leaves,
Today I found you as I carefully pulled back the blackthorn tree,
Today I found you and the colour yellow filled my eyes,
Today I found you amongst crab apples that carpet the ground,
Today I found you as I watched the robin hop from branch to branch
Today I found you in the stillness of my heart
Today I found you and felt your curiosity,
Today I found myself connected deeply to you,
Today I looked back and circled myself three dimensionally,
Today I found awen and was touched in every way.



Tim Hall
15 10 2007

[shirley mclaren]

Reflection

Winter morning by the river
Sitting, thinking, dreaming
Ever watchful, always listening
On the path of wonder.

Upon their memorial bench
'neath loving arms of trees
The spirits of my parents
Come to sit alongside me.

Cold morning by the river
Nature's echoes softer
Ghostly pale swans glide towards me
Taking the bread I offer.

Time departs too soon
Frost cracks on cold ground
White swan feathers float on water
Before sinking down and down.

I take my leave of spirits now
Tomorrow to return
And drink again from Nature's cup
To listen, watch and learn.

[Skylark]

A Game of Consequences

A youth in black with studs through his lip
met
his shadowy goth girl
and walked with her through the streets;
they crossed my path and went ahead.

He was wearing
white make-up,
a shapeless t-shirt with damnation print,
and in his kohl-rimmed eyes
the tender look all lovers wear.

She was wearing
a dress of long black lace,
purple lipstick on her matching white face,
raven hair
and a smile as light as air.

He said
something not intended for my ears
as he laughed his love into her coal-black eyes;

She said
something low and sweet
that drew his arm around her tighter;

They skipped like children in their hobnail boots,
the day was lighter.
and their sacred moment blessed the morning city
with all the colours of eternity.


Skylark 19-10-07

[Moonrising]

City Song

The city curls its fingers
around my throat.
I am hemmed in by the stink
of the endless traffic,
the hot, dry pavements,
the dust and airlessness.
Oh for the taste of the land
in my mouth,
the smell of soil,
wet moss clinging to old rock.
To be out with the gentle trees
whose branches reach, reach out
into the welcoming arc of the sky.
In the city, can’t breathe, sealed in
amongst tall buildings,
I reach out weary fingers
to dark ivy leaves
on a crumbling brick wall,
reverberations from a time when
a damp wood stood here also.