2008 SAMHUINN/BELTANE SHORT POEM ENTRIES

[Earthwoman]

Entries for This Season's Competition are now Closed.
Voting Begins on October 24. Once the voting begins, you may vote here for Short Poems.

Notice: Please use the poll to cast vote for your favorite short poem. You cannot select more than three. ONLY those votes submitted to the poll will be tallied. Votes submitted as posts below will not be counted.

This category contains original short poems (30 lines or fewer) for the current Eisteddfod here.

[Salomea]

Waltz in rain on three


Three minutes pasted

kap kap kap

Three minutes last

kap kap kap

Three times three

kap kap kap

Leads to eternity

kap kap kap

And you and me

kap kap kap

In green valley

kap kap kap

Dancing so freely

kap kap kap

A nice memory





(Kap- it’s polish onomatopoeic word imitating the sound of falling/leaking water.)

[City Druid]

Voice within

I thank your voice for when I never herd you
I thank your voice for when I never listened to
I thank your voice for when I chose to ignore you
I thank your voice for now I here you
I thank your voice for now I listen to
I thank your voice for now I follow you


Tim Hall

[Draziwekans]

Here's something I wrote a while ago now;-

Celebrate Samhain

As the wheel has turned we welcome a new year,
Rejoice with the past, don’t shed a tear,
The harvest now gathered for the year left behind,
Together we wait, new beginnings be kind,
We can feast on the produce of what we have sown,
And thank the goddess for all that has grown,

Listen to the wise whispers from the silence now here,
Welcome new knowledge, the future do not fear,
Release toils and troubles that can only bind,
Reflect on the joys that bring peace of mind,
The darkness now engulfs the earth,
The seeds lie dormant awaiting rebirth,

As the gods and spirits draw near and families reunite,
May we celebrate, give thanks and enjoy the long night,
Kindling new dreams and hopes round the warm glowing hearth,
Flames dancing wildly marking new beginnings for the earth,
Fire light the way, ash feed the ground,
Lets rejoice and grow in the love we have found,

Snakeman

[Fitheach]

WATER GATE (AUTUMN EQUINOX)

We call upon the Guardian of the Water Gate
To open the portal and let us find our way
Into the Western Realm where we may penetrate
The mysteries of the Faerie Queen, Morgan la Fey.

We travel a road paved with cockle shells
And pass the pool of learning, salmon-wise
We hear the muted tone of drowned golden bells
And hear above us the seagulls eerie cries.

There are well worn paths to many citadels
That once reached high their parapets
Broken stones, now where only selkies dwell
With names like Avalon, Atlantis, Lyonesse

But there is another realm, deeper still
Where the elemental energies still lie
An ancient fount of healing that can fill
Bringing life again to what was dead and dry

There are islands in the sea, and water gardens
Sacred rivers, springs, pools and holy wells
You’ll know you’ve found your water temple when
You discover where your own Water Spirit dwells

[Frog]

Autumn

Sit it upon a golden leaf,
Float to the ground underneath.
The carpet covers the autumnal flowers
Safe to grow after hours.

The mushrooms make their fairy rings
Through quiet voices the woodland sings
Calling the dryads for time to slumber
Later to wake when the winter's over.

[Bronzewing]

For Keech


And in my dream
Where you came to me
And let me hold you and stroke you

(My hand once more sliding past
Your warm brown eyes with the
Flecks of gold in them
Over your rounded head
And the upright ears which
Flicked back and forth so sensitively)

Even in my pleasure at seeing you
Being with you again
Even as I dreamed
I could tell you were impatient with me
You old soul you
And were ready to go on to
Who knows what new life
And only I kept you
Tied to this time and place
With missing you and wanting you back

(You already so much younger
Than when you died
On some backward journey
Preparing to go forward again)

Gracefully as I could I set you free
And woke to tears

And will I one day
See your soul
Shine from new eyes?

[Fox]

Blue Dog

I was troubled
When I first saw the Blue Dog
Blue Dog against a red brick wall
Blue Dog who lives deep down inside
He only showed himself once
In a frenzy of crayon
In the therapist's office

The wall was red brick with green shadows
An elaborate wall
Dynamic
Vibrating on the paper
Energy of chaos
Impenetrable in its complexity

But the Blue Dog was still
Featureless
Calm
Soothing
Silhouetted in front of the wall
And from that moment
My life turned

I know he's there still
The Blue Dog inside me
Still, against a red brick wall




[edited to add the title at the top of the poem - F.]

[DaRC]

The last golden ride -
with warmth glowing wide.
Soft breeze; Sif's own hair,
golden wheat, flowing air.

We praise the dying sun
for this day of flying fun
our smiles across the ear.
One day can make a year!

I heard them honk the knell,
gossiping geese in the well,
so we slipped the leash hold
to thrash the threshhold.

[RadCelt]

A Firebird is rising

[Badgerwoman]

This is sort of a different outlook to the Cailleach or Crone aspect of the Lady...hope you enjoy it.

A Mother's Cry to the Cailleach
CHORUS and first verse
Grandmother show me the ways of the tides
Cailleach teach me the ways of the wise
I'm but a Mother, I've not your wisdom
Cailleach show me the way it is done…

No longer taught in the older ways
Not taken aside as in the older days
Motherhood's instinct, that much is true
But I know I need to know far more from you
CHORUS

These days we're given a shower instead
Bright be the pillows, warm be the bed
Soft the child's cheek, fragile her soul
Cailleach teach me now, I need you so

BRIDGE
How do I teach her to follow her drum?
How do I shield her from heartache to come?
How do I show her to love and not hate?
Cailleach show me, please show me the way…
CHORUS

A girl child is mine, a great gift from You
But sometimes I'm lost, don't know what to do
She's bright and she's sunny, my golden joy
But she's ever so different from my little boy
CHORUS

[Fae]

Cadbury Castle

Up on this mist shrouded hill, soaked in blood and fear,
someone whispers, I alone can hear.

“The Romans are coming”

As I stand, here and now, upon this land so old.
I feel the pain and sorrow, this story to be told.
This was the home of a mighty man, who brought Breton together,
to fight and stand.
As the torches were lit, and the message sent.

“The Romans are coming!”

The women and children are secured below,
food and drink to last for now.
How this will end we do not know

Out upon the plains,
their fires burn and the drums sound
they will attack at dawn.

Amid the mists upon this hill,
listen carefully,
you can hear them still.

As men fall and others prepare to die,
the clash of swords the battle cry.

“The Romans are coming!”

All that remains upon this hill are a few stones, covered with grass
on long summer days, the cows come to graze.
No one remembers, nor feels their pain.

“The Romans came!”

© Faye Boyd 2008

[Snægl]

The Smith's Secret

Lame Lord's toil drives home
Longing for feathers' song
Hammer in hand, yet calm
Holding with tongs bright gold
Welder of wyrd enthralled
Wily crafting most highly
Sheltered souls he's smelting,
Soldering, this torn god.

[Tryak]

Orchard Moon

Orchard Moon now hanging bright
Forlorn trees 'neath silver light
Fruit now picked 'fore winter's bite
Naked boughs a lonely sight.

Apples' colours summer born
Sweetest fruit that's free of thorn
Harvest table to adorn
Alongside ears of mid-fall corn

Autumn's bounty time to reap
Before winter's long dark sleep
Cold begins its inward creep
Orchard prunings in a heap

Fruit in bins to store or ship
Apple cider hot to sip
Vineyard's growth now time to nip
Trimmed to length with practiced clip

This spring's creatures are now grown
Migrating birds south have flown
Time to harvest what was sown
'midst nature we're ne'er alone

[katewk]

Prayer to the Crone at Samhuinn


Leaves and rain fall gently
Marking another cycle,
Letting go another season.
The cauldron is stirred,
The ancient wisdom received.
Gates to the Underworld open wide
Revealing the ancestral link, arousing
Forgotten memories, cloaking me
In forested leaves of another kingdom.
I open my eyes to see my cousins and the
Remaining energies of sacred groves,
Long departed trees that whisper
Secrets into my heart.
Bring me back to the remembrance of
Who I am,
The long path that
Led away from the sacred grove into
Fear and isolation. Let me feel the
Kingship of creature and plant, hear the songs
Of stone and brook, receive the memories
From the voices upon the winds.
Heal me of my fears, fill my body and
Mind with light and vitality,
Let my soul be the ancient well
and my passageway along the primordial paths
Return me to the great tree of understanding.

Awen Awen Awen

Blessed Samhuinn Kate

[luisa]

Anam Cara



I found myself longing for a friend
Who would understand my heart

I found myself longing for a friend
Who would walk by my side

I found myself longing for a friend
Who would accept my hand

I found myself longing for a friend
Who would heed my dreams

I lit a candle
Whispering my wish to the Goddess

Slowly the wax burned until at last the light died down
A year and a day had gone by

A gentle breeze crossed over the land
My friend was arriving

A friend whose heart I understand
A friend with whom I walk side by side
A friend whose hand I have accepted
A friend whose dreams I heed
A friend with whom I am stronger


Love
Luisa

[Leil]

LIKE WATER

Following the shape of the landscape
I do not despair.
Following the shape of the landscape
I do not make plans.
Following the shape of the landscape
I fall down hillsides among the stones
Become brook
Become pool
Become brook again
Become river

Someday
I will become ocean
Someday
I will become peace

[Earthwoman]

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