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Imbolc

Soaring summit's
highest grace
fills the soul stretched thin
by old winter's dying moan,
revealing the embrace
of coming spring
in sunshine scatterings from
drifts of pale crusted snow.

Surging
warmth's new enfolding
spreads low along quiet
stands of sleeping trees
still caught between
the frozen edge of Earth's
slow revolution
and nearing summer sun
concealed by cold horizon.

Heralding
the breath of new awakening,
Imbolc has arrived;
The Goddess has been called,
the seeds are sorted, waiting,
the lands are thawing, warming,
eager hands are blessed, pressing;

for when The Goddess leaves
her footprints deep in
this expectant soil
we will be ready,
to seed, to plant,
to grow in sacred sacrament
of new and wondrous life.

Style / type: 
Free verse
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Editing stage: 

Comments

A fine lay to the celtic year. My favourite season is Samhain. The first day of the celtic new year. As I am fond of the cooler weather. Its easier to think and to write in the cold weather than the hot. I really like your poems with a strong pagan theme. Nice one pal

John

I enjoy Imbolc, myself, preparing for the growing season, heralding the Goddess, spring cleaning. Its the beginning of the stir of life.
Glad you enjoyed this.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

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Makes me think of the Irish-Metal band Cruachan. If you're into that kind of thing you should check them out. Some of their stuff is abit strong. My favourite song is Ride On from their album Folk Lore. It features Shane MacGowan. Many of their lyrics are either historical or concern folklore in theme. Stories about Cuchulainn, Michael Collins, Fionn MacCuhmael and the like.

John

lol
I climbed Ben Cruachan by loch Awe-side more than a few times, in my mis-spent youth. I'll have to listen to them.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

They're an Irish Death-Metal band. The name means "The Big Stack" in Irish. I think it has big connections to ancient Irish mythology. Something about the gateway to the spirit world. Some of their stuff I love and others not. But you should start with "Folk Lore"

Ben Cruachan translates as "big Stack Mountain".
In some Celtic mythologies, stacks - tall pillars of rock carved out by ocean erosion - have significance. Fingal's Stack, near Oban, is said to be the place where the giant chained his dog, when he went to his cave on the isle of Staffa. Stacks are also seen, in some circles, as signposts that point the way to various magical places and other worlds. Since they are usually found by the sea, they often point to such things as Llyr's palace, for example.

lol if Cruachan is a death metal band then I've probably heard some of their music - my son is a big death metal fan. I'll ask him!

Thanks John

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

Maybe you could write a celtic poem about the floods in the UK. If anyone can pull it off you can. I think that would be interesting.

I seldom write poetry on topics proposed by others, but I'll think about it!

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

I found this poem free flowing and easy on the tongue with good imagery about winter making way for spring and the awakening of the seeds as they get ready to sprout ...it was a pleasure to read this one..thanks for posting...

Regards,

raj (sublime_ocean)

its another of my 'pagan' poems...Imbolc is the second of the eight main sabbats, or holy days, of us pagans!
it is the time when the Goddess turns from old crone to young maiden, and when we clean out our homes and lives of all the grime and negativity that has collected over the previous year - spring cleaning is what it has become, for most of us. Its also the time when we plan our gardens and fields, dust off our gardening/farm equipment, and get all of our seeds ready, as well as starting seeds to plant later, after Ostara, the spring equinox, as young plants when the earth is warm enough.
I'm glad that you enjoyed this poem - Imbolc is one of my favorite times!

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

I am jealous I have months to wake till Spring its my favourite time of year I was a spring baby I think that maybe why I love it so much, your Spring my Autumn, my Spring your Autumn crazy upside down world we live in, there is a renewal of life in the spring that's unexplainable for me but its invigorating and I always seem to be much more up up up at that time of year.

Your Imbolc had me scrambling to know more about it :) I think you have done a fantastic job with this poem it just rolls off the tongue when read out loud, I only have one gripe

of new and wondrous life

when I read the last line my brain keeps wanting to say

of the new and wondrous life

or, of this new and wondrous life

just a suggestion and I totally understand if you don't agree it maybe just me

wonderful writing Brother as always a pleasure

much love JC xxx

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” — W.B. Yeats

yah I know what you mean, even the times of the seasons change as you move across the planet!
heehee.
"of new and wondrous life" i think I'll keep this line as is, because, for me, it encompasses all of life,but I do this only after a bit of thought - your suggestions are good ones.

Thanks hun, glad you like this so much..

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment
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