For the "High Tide On The Pacific"
I don't know what came over me today, but these words just seemed to resound in my ears all day long. So I figured I might as well write them down as soon as I had the chance. I love my job, but I couldn't wait for work to end today so I get home to write this. Whenever words come to me like this, I can't even think straight until I write them down. So here it is.
Unbidden Like Sunrise
Is it wrong? It is like
Hera falling into autumn
interrupting Apollo on the verge
of his vernal equinox.
In collusion, they find
inspired solace and unabashed joy
in the Garden of Words
while the stars are reflected
in the moon-lit shores of the
Lakes of the Muse.
Is this right? Is this Love?
A flock of harpies answer
with droppings of venom from their perches.
Their foul, ancient breath feels like
an unexpected meteor, burning
across a parched white salt flat.
For the first time, I'm afraid of fire
and retreat under
an abandoned graveyard.
I'm ashamed of my cowardice
and spend days weeping in my earthen bed.
Until one day
I feel a presence, strong and familiar,
hear a voice, knowing and certain.
I pause, still hurting.
Then, breathing deep,
I find my way back.
Don't ask me what it means because honestly, I'm not really sure. Maybe there's someone out there who can decipher gibberish.
Is it wrong? It is like
Hera falling into autumn
interrupting Apollo on the verge
of his vernal equinox.
In collusion, they find
inspired solace and unabashed joy
in the Garden of Words
while the stars are reflected
in the moon-lit shores of the
Lakes of the Muse.
Is this right? Is this Love?
A flock of harpies answer
with droppings of venom from their perches.
Their foul, ancient breath feels like
an unexpected meteor, burning
across a parched white salt flat.
For the first time, I'm afraid of fire
and retreat under
an abandoned graveyard.
I'm ashamed of my cowardice
and spend days weeping in my earthen bed.
Until one day
I feel a presence, strong and familiar,
hear a voice, knowing and certain.
I pause, still hurting.
Then, breathing deep,
I find my way back.
Don't ask me what it means because honestly, I'm not really sure. Maybe there's someone out there who can decipher gibberish.
Comments
Sounds to me like you're head over heels in love with God right now and She's responding in kind by inspiring you to create. Yum. Nothing higher. Enjoy.
"Harpies" was one of the words I put in, Phillipe. I'm glad you like it, especially since I know you're a bit of a macabre fan, too. :) It seemed to describe the image I was seeing at the time. And it's a term my son has used for an ex girlfriend. Apparently, the girl used to screech on the phone a lot.
Pearl, I owe you an email. It's next on my to-do list. We DO need to get together and talk when you arrive here in the States.
Liz, as always, thanks. And I don't know if I left a comment on your page about this, but you and your mother are very beautiful. It looks like your trip to Amish country was a lot of fun.
John,
Actually, I was a little confused by the Hera/Apollo reference myself. Hera is both the sister and wife to the Main Dude with the Lightning and Thunder, Zeus. Apparently, the term incest held no meaning to the ancient Greeks. Anyway, Zeus was remarkably prolific in his extra-amorous affairs, and Hera was pretty much incensed with him most of the time. Hera is sometimes considered the goddess of marriage, at least the traditional view of marriage from the Western point of view. She rules the home, gives birth, orders people around and throws words aand objects at her husband for his indiscretions.
Apollo is the god of sunlight, prophecy, music, and poetry. He was also the leader of the muses and patron of intellectual pursuits and civilization. He is also the result of one of Zeus's entanglements with the Titan Leto.
Hera was so incensed when she learned of Leto's pregnancy that she forbid everyone to provide a place for Leto to give birth to Apollo and his twin sister, Artemis (also known as Diana). Obviously, Leto did give birth to the twins, but that creates some problems as far as this poem is concerned.
Why would Hera want to have anything to do with Apollo, who is the son of one her rivals? I don't have the slightest clue. That's why writing this was so strange to me. For logical reasons, I would never pair Hera with Apollo in a poem or anything else. The woman was apparently the embodiment of hell unleashed when she filled with jealous rage.
That's the best I can do as far as an explanation is concerned, I'm afraid. I did have some thoughts about Hera representing the Old World that has fallen into mindless tradition and ego-driven selfishness. Apollo would then represent the new day, with all the sunlight and promise of a better and more civilized world. It could also be symbolic of a May-December relationship. I don't know. It could mean anything, I guess.
Whirlwind
As if a cosmic whirlwind passes by
The stars careen across a churning sky
Primeval constellations fly apart
Propelled in gyres no instrument can chart
This storm must blow and nothing block its course
The gods themselves shall not resist its force
Not Hera nor Apollo stand their ground
When age-old bonds of hate have been unbound
Yet harpies, howling, grieve to see the fall
Of hallowed ways that keep the world in thrall
The woeful clamour of their carping jive
Invokes a day when naught but death may thrive
Such dire drones would send me to despair
Were they alone to wail upon the air
Were not a greater Voice to call the dance
That moves all life at springtime's brisk advance
God is Greater than every great one!
Your kind comments are very encouraging and I'm happy you liked the Whirlwind poem. But the thanks are owed to you -- I was merely riding the wave of inspiration that you were privileged to have. It has rarely happened to me, if ever, to have a whole poem come to me in a complete form. The starting point is usually a glimmer of an idea, or maybe one line, and the rest is slow work to expand on it. Sorry to rave on. God bless.