I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

31 October 2014

Completion

On being asked to write about what this date, celebrated as 
Halloween (which is based on Samhain) truly means to me.

Tonight
I would light a candle.
I would stand it
beside your photo.

Tonight
I’d recall
the daily rituals
of our time together.

Tonight
I’d set a place for you
at our table.
Tonight we’d feast.

If it were truly Samhain
here in the warm South,
that is what I’d do.
However, it’s Beltane.

The hot, hot summer
is coming. But
the way we ushered it in
my dear, is over.

You are ghost or angel,
more ethereal than smoke.
And I shall be lighting
no fires tonight.





















Image: Beltane Fire Dancer by NataliaLeFay (free download)

Note: For those who don't know, Beltane is traditionally celebrated with sexual passion. 

31 Poems in 31 Days (Poewar / Writers Resource Center). Prompt: Completion.

Also a follow-on to the previous poem, which was in response to Poets United's Midweek Motif: Halloween, or Celebrating the Dead.

10 comments:

  1. I know what the names Samhain and Beltane mean, having read novels relating to those earlier Druidic times. They are also familiar in my far-memory of those times. Wistful memories, just as this poem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Modern Druids, witches and other Pagans still celebrate these Sabbats too.

      Delete
  2. Wow~! Keep the memory of fire, my friend. Love.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Most interesting Rosemary! So it is not just chocs and sweets! Nice to be remembered with sweet memories!

    Hank

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rituals...what makes life meaningful! ~ Love the fire dance.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Commented earlier elsewhere - this is an exquisite poem - one of your best in a body of excellent work !

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks to you all. I'm delighted you enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This saddens me, but it's so beautiful, Rosemary.

    ReplyDelete

Comments are moderated and will be visible after being approved by the blog owner. If you can only comment anonymously, please include your name in the comment, just so I know who's talking to me.