this image
a putrid vessel
in leafless wood - who are you in
there?
troll of my sorrow..?
thought haunted?
stirred by a storm pulling at my last
clinging leaf
of season -
grace me
for
i am not Wiccan
i know no Warlock great enough
to contain you
and?
who will release you
who will hold you at bay - and?
what shall i name you? without answer
i must take leave of this
wood
take leave of my love of it and seek appointment
with a sainted George
and his collapsing steeple
bkmackenzie 2019
copyrighted
saint george...the dragon slayer....
imaginary garden with real toads
Lovely poem!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting poem, Barbara. xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteWow. A leafless wood and the "troll of my sorrow". And the collapsing steeple at the end. Fantastic work, Barbara!
ReplyDeleteGeorge belongs to profane time, after the greenwood marriage and the long wastelanding of our separate sorrow, a grief which the forest at least could contain ... This George, his only appointment is to slay, never ride again, for long gone the time for riding the primal, of singing along. No one rides the Uffington Horse again. How inept that leaves us for encountering our still-dragon hearts ....
ReplyDeleteAn unusual poem with an unusual pic. A poem to ponder.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I had to research Saint George after reading your poem ..... fascinating lore.
ReplyDeleteLove the unique form of your poem. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe leafless wood is a wonderful image... to leave such a safe place is a challenge for everyone... may we have that strength...
ReplyDeleteThis is such a stunning rendition!❤️
ReplyDeleteI know St. George's enemy was a dragon, but it looks like this is a face off with something akin to Churchill's black dog. It's not easy to leave the known, even when the known is mostly a place bleached of life.
ReplyDeleteSuch stark imagery adds into the depth of its tone — there is a beautiful and mystical flow to it which I found so intriguing.
ReplyDelete