by Beth on February 2, 2010
For the 3rd year, I am delighted and honored to join in the ever-growing Brigid Poetry Slam. Throughout the blogosphere, everyone is invited to post poetry in honor of blessed Brigid, Goddess of Poetry on Her holy day.
My contribution today is a beautiful selection that my sister used for an art piece she made for [...]
by Beth on February 2, 2010
Fire of dawn-light in Her hair,
Fire flows like milk from Her hands.
Fire of bright promise in Her springing step,
Fire of the flame in Her eyes.
A blessing on Your hearthfire,
On Your gift of words,
On the brightness of Your sacred body,
A blessing on Your flame.
– Cait Johnson
Blessings for this cross-quarter holiday of Imbolc (which is also Lughnassadh [...]
by Beth on January 30, 2010
Many people fail to understand the magic of poetry. Perhaps it was a run-in with some dull English teacher in middle school; or forced marches through obscure parts of Dante and Whittier, with the emphasis on rote memorization, not the passion and meaning of the words.
But as most shamans, priestesses, bards, Kahunas, Druids, and [...]
by Beth on January 9, 2010
The Goddess Who Created This Passing World
by Alice Notley
from Selected Poems (Talisman House © 1993)
The Goddess who created this passing world
Said Let there be lightbulbs & liquefaction
Life spilled out onto the street, colors whirled
Cars & the variously shod feet were born
And the past & future & I born too
Light as airmail paper away she flew
To [...]
by Beth on January 3, 2010
Oh Sweet Irrational Worship
by Thomas Merton
Wind and a bobwhite
And the afternoon sun.
By ceasing to question the sun
I have become light,
Bird and wind.
My leaves sing.
I am earth, earth
All these lighted things
Grow from my heart.
A tall, spare pine
Stands like the initial of my first
Name when I had one.
When I had a spirit,
When I was on fire
When this [...]
by Beth on January 2, 2010
I Am the World
by Dora Sigerson Shorter (1866 – 1918)
I am the song, that rests upon the cloud;
I am the sun;
I am the dawn, the day, the hiding shroud,
When dusk is done.
I am the changing colours of the tree;
The flower uncurled;
I am the melancholy of the sea;
I am the world.
The other souls that, passing in [...]
by Beth on December 23, 2009
Winter Solstice
by Jody Aliesan
Grief Sweat, Broken Moon Press 1990
Thinking only makes the heart sore. – I Ching
when you startle awake in the dark morning
heart pounding breathing fast
sitting bolt upright staring into
dark whirlpool black hole
feeling its suction
get out of bed
knock at the door of your nearest friend
ask to lie down beside ask to be held
listen while [...]
by Beth on December 22, 2009
The Shortest Day
by Susan Cooper (author of The Dark is Rising)
And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year [...]
by Beth on December 5, 2009
From December 3rd through the 9th, a delegation of modern Pagans and Witches from across the globe are gathered in Melbourne, Australia for the Parliament of the World’s Religions. They are representing organizations like Covenant of the Goddess, the Temple of Ara, EarthSpirit, Cherry Hill Seminary, Earth Traditions, Circle Sanctuary, Solar Cross, the Pagan Federation, [...]
by Beth on November 28, 2009
To Autumn
by William Blake
O Autumn, Laden with fruit, and stain’d
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou may’st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.
The narrow bud opens her beauties [...]