Poems From The Glade

Are you or anyone in your scene attending Burning Man, the 9-day gathering celebrating radical self-expression and radical inclusion in the Nevada Desert?

If so, I shall be hosting a Poetry Slam the first Monday (the night of the Eclipse) at the Silicon Village (Silicon Valley locals camp), and I NEED poets! This is my first time attending the Burn and I'm getting my camp fees waived for doing this, so please help a virgin out!

Please contact me off-channel at werd2thenerd AT yahoo if so, or call (fur oh ate mine sex oh fur vibe mine oh).

Oh, if anyone is curious as to MY identity (considering this is my first post), I usually perform under the name of Tristissima (I have 7 others), I've been slamming in San Jose for, garsh, six and a half years, and I was on the Santa Clara University Collegiate Team 2004 and the Palo Alto Team 2005 and 2006

Thanks guys!

O Brighid of three flames!
A red flame for the forge -- steady and true!
A gold flame for healing -- shining and pure!
A blue flame for a Woman of Poetry -- hot and ghostly!
Flicker and give life and inspiration
Hot breath to set the head aflame
So the crown shines!
Forge me! Heal me! Inspire me --
Sovereign daughter of the hearth & hidden fires!

A poem I got from an online mailing list... thought y'all would appreciate it! ;)

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Hall
Not a creature was stirring, not warrior nor thrall.
And I in my armor, my greaves and my helm
Was drunker than anyone else in the Realm.

I staggered upstairs and fell into bed
While four quarts of mead were ablaze in my head.
Then up from below came the sounds of a brawl
So I grabbed up my axe and ran down to the Hall.

I missed the last step and crashed down in a heap
Thinking, "Why can't those low-lifes downstairs go to sleep!"
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But two brawny strangers, wielding mallet and spear.

I said to myself, "We'll soon have them beat!"
Then I noticed ten warriors laid out at their feet.
I gave out a yell and leapt into the fray...
I'll always regret my poor choice of that day.

For the one laid his hammer to the side of my nose
And up, up, up to the rafters I rose.
Then came a lone frightened voice from the floor,
"Those are no mortal warriors -- that's Odin and Thor!"

Then they looked at each other and they said, "Battle's done.
Now they know who we are, it no longer is fun."
Then Thor raised his hammer, and his elbow he bent,
And with a loud crash, through the ceiling they went.

I crawled through the Hall and flung open the door,
Not really sure that I'd seen them before.
The snow bathed in starlight, the moon like a glede,
I saw them ride off on an eight-legged steed.

And I heard them exclaim,
'ere they flew out of sight,
"TO HELL WITH CHRISTMAS,
WE JUST LOVE A GOOD FIGHT!"

Yule
K. Klein

Amongst the oak and holly leaves
The Wren and Robin sat between
"Come" the Wren said, "I shall sing
A song of winter cold

"My brother is the far-flung Crow
The black death-watch upon the snow
The swordless Horned One to him goes
When Autumn sun wanes cold

"My sister of dark night is queen
The hag that lives the moons between
Her womb is barren now of seed
Her lover grey and old

"And where have you been, Robin brother
Gone to see your white-breast mother?
The white snow covers up Her bowers,
She's taken Her home of old"

Amidst the Oak and Holly leaves
The Robin silent sat between
Until with sweet voice, calmly he
Began a merry song

"Long has my white crow Mother been
With your brother, black winged Bran
Until Her belly stirs within
As Yuletide sun grows strong

"And now at sunrise, silent, stark
Between the days and the winter dark
Rekindled is the fire's spark
The Oak King sounds the horn

"In the forest's icy gleam
There goes a shadow, swiftly seen
The Holly and the Oak between
The Green Man is reborn

"So tell me truly, dark eyed Wren
Where will you the winter spend
Until the wheel is turned again
And winter casts its thorn?"

But Wren's reply was never got
By a golden arrow he'd been shot
And darkness died upon the spot
The Holly and Oak between

The Oak King now is berry-crowned
The Green Man born the forest 'round
But the Wren lays cold upon the ground
The Holly and Oak between

And young lads on the darkest night
Their golden arrows swift in flight
Will sing until the morning bright
The sun to welcome in:

"The Wren, the Wren, the king of the birds
On Yuletide day was caught in the furze
Up with the kettle and down with the pan
And give us a penny to bury the Wren."

I once ran across a snippet of poetry that we have used as a Yule circle casting or mood piece; when I found it, it read:

Cruel Winter cuts through like the reaper
And the old year lies withered and slain.
But like Barleycorn who rose from the grain
The new year will rise up again.
The snow falls and the wind calls
And the year turns round again.


I have since learned that it comes from a song by John Tams, which I've yet to hear:

Snow Falls
John Tams

Cruel winter cuts through like the reaper
The old year lies withered and slain
Like Barleycorn who arose from the grave
The new year will rise up again

And the snow falls
And the wind calls
And the year turns round again

And I'll wager a hat full of guineas
Against all of the songs you can sing
Some day you'll love and the next day you'll lose
And winter will turn into spring

And the snow falls
And the wind calls
And the year turns round again

There will come a time of great plenty
A time of good harvest and song
Til then put your trust in tomorrow my friend
For yesterday's over and done

And the snow falls
And the wind calls
And the year turns round again

Well, Yule is just about here, so in honor, I'm posting a poem I wrote a long time ago dedicated to one of my favorite seasons. If you have any of your own, share them!

( lady winterCollapse )

Mortal, fear to go out tonight
For Feery Folk more dark than bright
Do rade abroad with ghostly light;
The long straight tracks are theirs by right!

Mortal, I counsel you stay at home
For Feery Folk do more than roam
They steal the unwary 'neath the loam
Or 'neath the sea all crowned in foam!

But mortal, if you would the Power gain
It's you must pass with the Feery train
For it's union with What's Below that sains
And fans to shining the mortal Flame!

Six moons have died
Since the witch took the blood from my heart
Now she feels sorrow , now her breath stops
She drank my blood to feel my life
But for others it is poison in disguise
I lay dead and so does she
Like we where ment to be
My lips draw a smile
Finally dead not alive
I see my brother calling me
finally out of this misery
and again next to him
like we where ment to be.

comments are wellcome

Fire burning on the hillside
Wind is sweeping in the dark
Candles glowing casting shadows
Illuminates the circle.

Arms are raised as robes do billow
Voices carried through the night
Ancestral offerings on the altar
A gateway cast tonight.

Walking through the other world
Long gone loved ones fill the air
Singing chanting merry making
Dancing in the circle.

Parting sorrow in the moonlight
A promise softly whispered forth
We'll meet again my long lost darling
In circle at next Samhain.

In honor of Samhain (albeit a day late... better than never!), I have a few spookier poems I'd like to share with y'all.

How's about the rest of you, any spooky poems in honor of Halloween/Samhain/Día de los Muertos?

( dark seductionCollapse )

( this old houseCollapse )

( death becomes herCollapse )

( by the candlelightCollapse )

Enjoy!