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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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; … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more