BIRDS ON A WIRE (A Poem)

BIRDS ON A WIRE

An eye on one bird blinks
and a hill years away transmutes
into a blue bell of sky.

Another dips its beak and the disguise
of rocks dissolves, the void within
as vast as those between stars,
and brimming with all potential.

This orange sun would not
have risen without their songs,

without their small feet holding
the tension of the wire, without

their soft shadows weaving webs
of grace from each note's fall.

Written 1994; revised 2000

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I wrote this poem soon after reading an article on quantum field theory, while I was still mulling over the images that arose as I tried to comprehend what I'd read. This poem was called to mind while reading a paper yesterday by Dr. Montague Ullman, in which he begins to posit a new way to understand dreams/dreaming based in quantum field theory and the work of the physicist David Bohm.

BTW, I'm participating in the International Association for the Study of Dreams PsiberDreaming Conference (online, where I read Dr. Ullman's paper) until October 8th, so may not be posting here as frequently as usual.

‘til next time, keep dreaming,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)****My other blog: ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL.

THE FORGOTTEN CRONE (A Poem)

[photo by Vera C. Wareham, Web Site: Through My Window]



THE FORGOTTEN CRONE
(On Viewing a Postcard From Ireland)


A blood red door
stands askew in the wall:
a rip in the stone sky
a wound frozen open.

A broom leans against the grey wall,
tilted toward the old black latch:
a forgotten crone who waits,
and as she waits, dreams,
and as she dreams, burns
the skies clean and brings stone
to life with a glance.

The post prior to this one (WHAT WAITS ETERNAL) shares another poem based on the same postcard. The poem above, THE FORGOTTEN CRONE, is actually the one I wrote first. But when I finished it, although I was as content with it as I ever am with my writing, the images on the card still challenged me. So I wrote WHAT WAITS ETERNAL.

At any rate, these two very different poems are reflective of where I was at back then (20 years ago). I had understandings that nourished and supported me (THE FORGOTTEN CRONE), but I was (as I still am) a searcher (WHAT WAITS ETERNAL). That's a convoluted way of saying THE FORGOTTEN CRONE reflects more where I was at and WHAT WAITS ETERNAL where I was exploring.

In THE FORGOTTEN CRONE above I was also consciously attempting to reclaim the powerful and life enhancing associations for the word "crone." I'd been influenced then by both the increasing interest of fellow Pagans in croning rituals -- empowering rites of passage for elder women, and the negative responses non-pagans had and still have to the word/concept of a Crone.

* * * *

Resource: Poets & Writers; many years ago when I was active in the New York City poetry community I had a lot of exposure to the wide variety of workshops and readings this organization funds.

‘til next time, keep dreaming,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)****My other blog: ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL.