pebble falling
floating into hidden depths
it settled on the river bed
to rest there
long and lasting
rolled only by the river
moved by natures forces
while the ripples hit the bank
and rippled back again
where do the ripples go?
how far would they continue
if there was nothing
to contain them?
would they go on and on
beyond my power of seeing?
words are just like pebbles
reaching hidden depths
they too have their ripples
bouncing off each other
spreading outwards
in ways we never know
love is not always
as fragile as it seems
if it’s founded on truth
and nestled in dreams
Ceres hands have been at rest
Now she spins her spells anew
And the land is freshly blessed
Magic sparkles in the dew
Her song of rebirth wakes her daughter
Hidden in the ancient depths
Held in night that brings no day
Persephone has been away
Bringing comfort under earth
Distraction in the realms of death
Where darkness broods in Pluto’s lap
Until in time she is released
To shine in glory once again
Child of Spring and Summers breath
April showers bring the rainbows
Seven coloured belt so rare
Girdled round Persephone’s waist
Scattered daisies in her hair
Dancing bare foot in the grass
Whirling, spinning, wild and wanton
She spreads enchantments everywhere
Where she steps the flowers bloom
And we know that winter’s past
Here is comes!
The Overture!
Winter ice melts away
Runs in rivulets of water
Puddles reflect a silver sun
Splattered light, all a-dazzle
The snowdrop rings a tiny bell
Listen close
It bows its head
With tender grace
In sweet sonata
Shy performer on life’s stage
The crocus come
Gentle choral
Adding colour
Bringing warmth
The trees burst forth in emerald bud
Birds fly in from warmer climes
All sleeping creatures come awake
All is chatter, all is bustle
Adding to the seasons song
In the garden
Daffodils march in
Blaring trumpets
Yellow chalice
Golden gongs
Gilly-flowers join the dance
Forsythia, Hyacinth,
Frezia, Lilac, Helleborus
Cornucopia of scent
Blue bell carpets in the forest
Where the shade is damp and dense
All the worlds a jubilation
Sung forth from the blackbirds throat
Bringing joy to the morning
Making all our spirits rise
Flying upward with the birds
To the bright cerulean sky
Two lovers
separated
by the stretch
of open ocean
endless sky
moonlight passing
day to night
Arjuna’s window pointed west
While Rosa’s looked out to the east
Of their love they both were sure
Only water lay between them
Only time would be the test
Whether love could long endure
They had vowed to watch the moon
Each one in their lonely room
Far apart, but close in heart
They watched the silver face
Passing in and out of sight
Held aloft in lovely light
Counting moons
The months passed by
In time Rosa ceased to cry
She had now become enamored
Of watching starlit nights
And changing skies
Counting moons
The years passed by
Arjuna drowned his tears in books
Slowly he began to write
He described the stars
And all the glories of the night
He described all she saw
As they watched the sky together
Together yet so far apart
They reached a sweet contentment
Beyond the reach of lovers art
Contemplating all they saw
Did they ever meet again?
If fate was kind I think they did.
Where it was I cannot say.
May the light of heaven lead them.
The moon has never shone so bright
As I saw it shine tonight.
when i am old i wont do anything
but think
and run my life back and forward
in my mind
in translucent back-lit visions
the trek to the kitchen and back
a long journey
re-gaining at last the armchair
i will sleep
to dream dreams of the long gone days
i will develop a liking for jelly and custard
milk pudding
soup from a can and cheese with jam
cream cakes
and forget what i meant to have for breakfast
the taps will drip, the fire will burn cold
windows rattle
and the mice will move in unafraid
as company
to eat all the fabrics to tatters
i will confuse the books i have read
with memories
i will see the ghosts of my family
standing by
wondering if they will lead me away tonight
I wont care about any of this
watching light
watching shadows move across the walls, my clock
distant birds
i will ignore all bad news and live in imagination
drifting back to childhood again
so clear
with all my family gathered near
the dead ones
now will become a space between waking and sleep
the desert air
that blows across the land
is hot and full of sand
bringing no relief
to sultry streets
the passageways
emptied by siesta
echo to your running feet
rushing down the thousand steps
in and out of shade
the shade is dark, the shade is cold
you run away, while the town is sleeping,
continuing your seeking
leaving me behind
with no promises worth keeping
you thought you’d live your fantasy
you thought you’d find a wild romance
and these narrow streets held magic
i have seen your like before
you come and go like starlings
you only came to play with me
you will always be a tourist
you don’t belong anywhere
i cannot escape from here
your liberty is tragic
what peace there is
by the fire in the evening
as we sit in a circle together
what joy there is in simple things
late into the night
the firelight glows
i feel my heart expanding
in the blessing music brings
the stars shine high above us
and in all the eyes
i see all around me
that same light shines
after all, most of all
when all is said and done
the stars will all still be there forever
and life is the song that we all share
when i am fire
i burn away anger
when i am tree
i bend with the wind
when i am water
i wear away stone
and know all the wise ways of flowing
when i am cat
i narrow my eyes
when i am dog
i am joyfully willing
when i am horse
i turn with the wind
this is my freedom in going
when i am hare
magic is mine
when i am raven
i watch still and clear
when i am wolf
i see who you are
this is the seeing of knowing
i will leap, bend and flow,
run, turn and go
return as i please
see what i see
magnetic paths pull above treetops
clouds cap the mountains that hide me
dark cool shadows in water
hidden things amongst leaves
as i make my own journey
i follow these old ways alone
water is a life giving blessing
the trees shelter us, breathing
the lone wolf protects the pack
energy runs with the horse
the world is mirrored in the eye of the raven
hidden, unhidden, bidden, unbidden
the hare runs the path of the circle unbroken
running fleet foot in pastures and hills
on horseback i chase the illusive hare
while the raven sits still in the oak
and watches, waiting for me
From dolmen and hilltop in sunlight and rain
We travel the path as it opens again.
From mountain to ocean through woodland and glade
The way and the telling are already made.
The circle is whole and the pattern will grow
From time immemorial it’s always been so,
Sharing the joys of a journey that starts
In the melding of minds and the opening of hearts,
Recalling the magics that words cannot say
Finding the wending winds of the way
In the voyage of discovery we know who we are
As we follow the light of the mariners star
I will walk beside you as you walk beside me
Our story is the story that’s unbounded and free
The Dreaming Path 