T’was on the distant mountain
Past the gate of The Three Graces
Where the wild forsythia blooms,
An old crone sat
On a green mossy stone
Contemplating the phase of the moon.
“Tis the time”, thought the crone,
As she reached for her spade,
“I will turn the ground now to prepare.”
And she went to the field
Sprouting green with new grass
And dug three holes with great care.
“In the hole to the North,”
Said the crone with much glee,
“The seeds of Earth’s Joy I shall plant”,
And she sang and she danced
As she banged on her drum
Thus infusing the seeds with intent.
In the holes to the South
She put seedlings of Charm
And next to that Beauty, you see?
The seedlings would grow
To be great spreading trees
Guarding gates of creativity.
The Three Graces are they,
A siren’s song
Three ships on a bonnie green sea,
Dancing bare in the snow
Or on moonlit bright nights
Unbridled they swing, they are free.
I can hear the crone’s laugh
Whistling up the through the hills
By the light of the Beltane Moon,
As The Graces they dance
To the May breeze call
And the peacock's song echos the tune.
36 comments:
Cat - I dearly love when an old crone contemplates the moon. You never know what will happen! I especially loved the ending stanza. Delightfully rendered and skillfully wrought, as always. I enjoy your work immensely.
Cat, this is magnificent! I loved it so much and for so many reasons; the references to green, to creativity, etc. Your painting is perfectly paired also with this 'song'- yes, it is more of a song, a beautiful spring like song!
K, it is so completely fitting that you should be the first one here, as I could not help but think of you as I was writing this, what with all that talking of moss and moons and all. :-) I'm very glad to know you liked it!
Calli- Thank you! I'm so glad you heard the music. :-) Green is such an exquisite color this time of year. Neon vitality!
Yea, I too loved the references/analogy there. Brilliant piece of writing there!!!
I instantly have a tune ringing in my head. A couple of subtle acoustic guitar strokes and this could easily become a wonderful song.
Keep writing!!!
Wonderful!
It's picture perfect!
Keep Writing :)
thats really beautiful, i totally enjoyed reading this :)
made me believe that spring will finally come here too.
Oh your Joy, charm and beauty reflects in every word of this piece Catherine. :-)
And the paintings would make a great pair of winter and spring. :P
Loved everything about this post, and the fact that it is written by you made me love it even more.
:-) :-)
I love the cadence of this. There's a place for rhyme done well! On second reading I read this aloud, and could really appreciate it for the sound. Besides the rhythm, I really like the mythological/magical references in this.
"I can hear the crone’s laugh
Whistling up the through the hills
By the light of the Beltane Moon,
As The Graces they dance
To the May breeze call
And the peacock's song echos the tune." I love this!
Your painting inspired me to write down a Haiku (again... I know. {Hangs head down in shame})
So I've linked to your post on my blog.
Sorry, didn't wait to ask your permission couse I was kinda sure you wouldn't mind.
(However, feel free to scold me if you do. :-) )
Cat, this is incredible. I have this perfect picture of the "old crone" who herself has joy, charm and beauty dancing within her.
The paiting is gorgeous as always.
Jennifer
Brosreview-I know, huh! I've been thinking about doing some songwriting again lately. I abandoned writing songs after I got a music degree and learned out to sing opera, but now I want to backslide something awful. Thanks for your wonderful words as always, glad you're here!
Deepazarts-Thank you! I am lax in getting over to your blog, but I will very soon I promise. I've been spending very little time online, but I want to see your work!
Hi Lena! It will come it will come it will come! In a month's time it will be in full swing, just believe!
Aniket-Thank you! I love that you love it and that you published a Haiku! Of course you have my permission!
Karen-I figure if I call it a song I can get away with rhyming in this culture of fear of rhyming poetry. :-) I am so glad you liked it!
Yellow? Polka Dot's? No shock of red hair, a shock instead of BLOND hair. Is it, could it be, YOU? My magenta flavored red head in DISGUISE? Thanks Jen, I'd love to see the picture.
Cat, why did you think I had red hair??? :)
(on my blog I said I was on a itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot break. So I am incognito...as myself. ;) )
I thought you had red hair because I wanted you to. Irish you know, and red goes so interestingly with magenta and all. But your blond hair is very beautiful so you can keep it. Now we can be twinsies.
Any why are you up this early? Or is it this late?? ;)
I'm usually up at the crack of dawn, or an hour or so before. I think we are in the same time zone.
You're right!! Like you with my "red" hair, I always think you are in California!! Because you seem more west coast to me. :)
Jen, there you have it! Most of 48 years of living there has left an indelible print. A San Francisco flower child of the 60s, So Cal surfer girl 70s, Nor Cal self growth pop psychologist of the 90's, picks up and goes to Asheville, NC (aka The San Francisco of the South) to be a bohemian of the new millennium.
Wait a sec. Twinsies??
Now I am officially lost! Is that not you in your profile pic Catherine? You don't look like a blond to me... :-)
I'm pretty blond Aniket, but the lighting in that pic isn't great, and I had my hair up on my head, hiding away.
Okay, now you gals seriously need to follow suit after Jason, Aine and myself, and reveal yourself a bit more. :)
Hello Cat, I think this is the first time I've left a comment on your blog.
I just had to tell you how much I loved this poem. It has music to it. I wasn't just reading it, I was singing it!
It reminded me of old Irish songs sung by my father.
Enjoyed it even more because spring has just arrived here, at last! Wonderful....
Hi Margaret! Welcome to my blog. I was just over at your blog and looking at the cold cold winter. Yay for Spring, huh? Couldn't come soon enough.
Margaret, by the way, I love that my song reminded you of the songs your father sang. That makes me smile!
Pure delight, Cat. This danced right off the tongue!! And I love the peacocks in the painting--do you actually see them around your house? They do have an ungodly cry, don't they.
I love that charm and beauty sit so snug together. They are the ripening inspiration for the joy that follows. And all have been good to you. :)
Just beautifully, beautifully done.
Hi Sarah, Yup. Just over that ridge where the trees are is a farm that raises peacocks that roam freely. They come to visit me sometimes, and I love their call. It reminds me of the desert in Rajasthan where they are abundant. In fact, the peacocks in the painting are one photoshopped peacock neighbor of mine. :-) I'm glad this got your tongue dancing. :-)
Wow, Cat! Great job with this! I love how the old crone turns out to have a bit of the Goddess inside her. She isn't the old hag-type I pictured at first.
:)
This is my favorite painting of yours, so far! For me, peacocks inspire many ideas for fables. So they were a fitting creature to include in this poem.
I will think of this the next time I see a group of three trees!
Hi Cat,
Thanks for the kind words.
I've missed your creative and inspiring posts. The painting is wonderful. I see that you are a true artist and not just an amateur. As for the song I love it. It gives me that feeling of joy and freedom.
I will pick one of your poems to post it on my blog. If you would allow me I will pick it unless you have a favorite one you would like to share again.
I love spring and its spirit. Enjoy it.
Thanks Aine! Of course I did cheat with the peacocks, I used a camera to get them and a little digital magic and viola! I love them, those big honking noisy birds.
Khaled! It is so good to see you again. I am imagining you up to your ears in books and writings and research and whatever else you are doing madly to finish your educational objectives.
What an honor you offer me, and please pick! I would love to see your choice. Thank you so much! Here is to Spring (clink!).
I like the Celtic feel of this. Almost Wiccan, perhaps (if I truly knew what Wicca entailed). An embrace of the rites of spring. :)
Thanks Jason! I think perhaps my Celtic DNA has influenced this poem! :-)
Cat, you were over at my blog and you didn't leave a comment!! Ohh, I'm disappointed :(
Btw, forgot to mention your painting in my comment - it's a pleasure to look at, fills me with lovely, warm impressions of spring. :)
Hi Margaret, I tried to comment but it wouldn't take it! I am glad you saw I was there though. :-)
Oh, lovely! I was already sold in the first bit, with the crone digging her holes by the light of the moon.
Rachel-Thank you! I am secretly hoping you will submit a poem for this current prompt. I know it will be great, whatever is.
A wondeful poem, Cat! And the painting too - I love it. The trees look like peacocks and the green is fantastic!
Vesper, until you mentioned it I did not see the peacocks in the tree shapes, but now I do! :-)
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