Tribal Recollections 3
The birds are floating in the night sky.
The birds are floating in the night sky.
The moon is huge and round and golden.
The Mother sleeps inside a ring of stones:
great monoliths, tall and dark.
She lies on a bed of stone
with a stone pillow.
“Mother,” whisper the birds,
“We have loved you, how can we leave you
alone under the sky in the deepening dark?”
But she says nothing. She never stirs.
A large bird stays
poised in the air above her,
gazing down. The protective wings
are outstretched over her. The blue fringe
on wings and tail makes a guiding signal
she can follow home ... if ever she wakes.
The other birds are flying away
more and more distant, smaller and smaller
in the grey sky. A purple snake
undulates across the sand by her bed.
She murmurs in her sleep but doesn't wake.
If she would pick up the snake,
she would be a healer.
I love this fable, the inter=relationships, the protections, and of course, the snake.
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten your snake motif, which I had meant to write something for ... perhaps my subconscious was prompting me here!
Deletedef an intriguing write rosemary...rather a fable or legend...a dangerous game to grab the snake...but risk is often what defines us....
ReplyDeleteWOW, what a fabulous poem this is. I love it all, the sleeping mother, the protective bird, and, especially, "if she picked up this snake, she would be a healer." Fantastic writing! Loved it so much. A poem with a snake in it that is beautiful. Cool.
ReplyDeleteLovely writing. I was mesmerized with the story then the closing line jumped at me. It left me thinking, smiling and happy that I read this. It's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteShe murmurs in her sleep but doesn't wake.
ReplyDeleteIf she would pick up the snake,
she would be a healer.
Great ending. One wakes up from a dream with lots of ideas. If only things turn out the better! Dreams somehow remain as dreams! Wonderful write Rosemary!
Hank
what an enchanted world you have created Rosemary...
ReplyDelete