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Pagan Poetry 1999

Owlflight

a shadow on the moon
passes through my name

the whisper of my wings
brings memories and dreams

I cry for old souls lost
and fears new-minted in the forges of the night

the secret deeds of darkness
find their way to me

and wisdom warm as down
drifts 'round me when I fly

they murmur of me still in hollow hills
who have never seen my shape

I herd the slow ghosts home
to silken halls

when autumn turns the wheel
and Death forgets her way

hatched from magic's ancient egg
I lay my treasures lightly in the path of those who know

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Augury

High in the sky, a blackbird
sings a paean to a pretty day
while in a low bush, his mate
warns of storms on the morrow

Listen also to the wren,
whose shy, sweet cry
tells of travelers and their business

Gallantly the goldfinch flits
from flower to flower, gleaning seeds
from the dead dry heads: an omen
of fruitfulness

Soft-feathered, silent-flying one:
the owl brings wisdom
and blesses the divination

Needle-winged falcon,
ferocious and fleet,
gives the sign of ascension:
victory to the one who sees it

Quietly the crane waits
amongst the reeds, a vigilant watcher
renowned for patience:
slender messenger of the gods
sent to deliver glad tidings

Sleek as an evening breeze and
whiter than winter's breast,
the swan brings benevolence,
sincerity, and grace

Mediator between the sky and the water,
the duck's course encompasses
conjugal happiness:

What the birds know, they show and tell,
an augury of omens.

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When I was little
I would run to the railing,
Press myself
Against the painted pipes
And lean out over the open air --
Whatever height there was drew me
As a flame draws a moth
In tighter and tighter spirals.

I yearned to spread silken wings
And soar out into space, free as thought,
Flying above all barriers, beyond
All boundaries.

This is the first frontier, your foremost
Inmost reaction to the great unknown --
Do you turn from it and run away,
Or embrace it,
Laughing madly and discarding care
To the welcome winds?

Would you go overboard
To answer the siren's song
And swim in the waters marked
"Here There Be Dragons"
Then sketch the map's edges
That little bit farther?

All that we believe
Stands solid beneath us, disturbed
Occasionally by questions -- do you
Cower in the basement
Or dance in the earthquake, with all
Your known universe shaking around you?

Look into your heart, and if you see it
Yearning towards the brink of infinity then
Go with that and let go
Of anything that might hold you back: old
Knowledge worn out ages ago, fears
Of failing or falling, dreams
Too timid to come true.

When you get to the edge
Of the great unknown, take the proper precautions
Then hurl yourself gladly outward and in
Diving through new skies, innocent
Of any ceiling.

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In the House of Words and Wind

-- An invocation to Athena

Gray-eyed goddess of ancient air
Athena, queen of dreams and divination,
Send your owl-fletched arrows against our enemies
And speak to us with authority
Of a woman's strength.

Lead us through grace to glory
And the quiet triumph of mind over mutters;
Let the winds of wisdom fill our wings
And lift us high over the mountains of mourning.
Clear skies open above us,
And the breeze of your blessing ensures success.

Sword of Truth, Plume of Power,
Nothing escapes the gaze of your flashing eyes:
Give us this vision, and we will rest content
To serve as handmaidens in the hall of your homage
In the House of Words and Wind.

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Windwalker's Wisdom

-- An invocation to Odin

Odin All-Father,
Far-Wandering Windwalker,
Tamer of Hatred and Wearer of Ravens,
We call on You now.

Grant us the wisdom and insight
To work with our Fate and not against it,
To weave fridd and not fray it,
To stand fast and not fall.
Cloud-high our courage rises:
Let us ride our Fate with the grace of Ravens.

Grey-Cloaked Sage of Shifting Shapes,
All-Seeing Eye of Magic's Might,
Set Your shield upon us as a pledge
That we may strive, and flourish, and fly,
And feast with You in Valhalla
When the last wind settles in the west.

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sparks

out of the waiting dark, a light:
first spark of creation
kindling suns like campfires of the gods

out of the silent night, lightning:
one brazen hunter stays to brave the flames
and bring the red flower home at last

out of the whispering shadows, enlightenment:
a mind catching fire with ideas
and sweet realization --

we are all sparks from the First Source
whirling in the heat of passion, our endless dance
one long blaze of creation to the very end of days

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Shaman Song

Toward me the twilight comes rustling, rustling,
A vast black blanket beaded with stars:
Tall as the sky, the night approaches
With a rattle in each hand
susurrus, susurrus
Making everything sacred as it comes.

Ant-stones chatter in a Turtle shell,
Dry beans tumble in a gourd
susurrus, susurrus
Bringing dreams and visions.

Towards me the morning comes
Clear air like a flute's cry
we who, we who
The shaman darkness seeks its rest,
The rattles fall still
But I remember:
susurrus, susurrus, susurrus...

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Invocation to Agayu

Around the rim we gather
Beseeching the aid of the Mountain-Tall One
Calling on Grandpa Volcano
To stand as our guard.

Green and brown grow the slopes
Of the mighty mountain;
Red, red burns the fire within!
Save us and shield us,
O Ancient One, from chaos and violence.
We are just little people
Clinging to your sturdy cloak;
Watch over us that we may grow strong.

Agayu,
Fire-haired guardian,
Be with us now!

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Meltwater

The sun blazes silver and gold
On the icicles, starfire dripping from glittering fingers
And as I stare entranced the image
Strikes me with this impression:

That knowledge is like ice, frozen
In an ivory tower until
The coherent light of thought licks across it
And lasers free the quicksilver trickle of truth

Radiant glory glistens around me
As I drink in this deep perception and move
Forward under the eaves, turning my face
Up and up towards the bright ice and the fire

So that drops of meltwater kiss my lips,
My cheeks, my eyelids: I give myself over to bliss
Submerging in this corporeal communion with knowledge,
Which is to me the depth and breadth of Divinity.

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shadow, shadow

shadow from the Lady's land
lend me aid as I command

shadow from the Lord's abode
lend me grace along my road

shadow from the One True Source
lend me courage on my course

shadow, shadow, know my will
sing with me through spring's last chill

shadow, shadow, hear my praise
soar with me through summer's haze

shadow, shadow, call my name
leap with me through autumn's flame

shadow, shadow, feel my flow
dream with me through winter's snow

friend of mountains, issue forth
shadow, meet me in the north

friend of every flying beast
shadow, meet me in the east

friend of fire's hungry mouth
shadow, meet me in the south

friend of ocean's fertile breast
shadow, meet me in the west

friend of sky's blue velvet glove
shadow, meet me up above

friend of patterns deep and slow
shadow, meet me down below

friend of all I've ever been
shadow, meet me here within

shadow, shadow, fill my blade
full of every power made

shadow, shadow, fill my stone
full of strength to stand alone

shadow, shadow, fill my bowl
full of magic sweet and whole

shadow, shadow, fill my wand
full of might to break or bond

sleep and secrets fled and gone
shadow, stand with me at dawn

sun's own hammer fierce as June
shadow, stand with me at noon

silver breath and lifeless husk
shadow, stand with me at dusk

jewel of moon and skein of light
shadow, stand with me at night

shadow, shadow, see me pray
dusk and dawn and night and day

shadow, shadow, lead me best
north and east and south and west

shadow, shadow, let me go
deep within, above, below

shadow, shadow, hear my prayer
water, fire, earth, and air

shadow, shadow, sacred force
Lady, Lord, and One True Source

shadow, shadow, I have prayed
wand and stone and bowl and blade

shadow, shadow, take my spell
send it sure and send it well

shadow, shadow, bind it thrice
yielding virtue free from vice

shadow, shadow, spiral swirled
let my spellcraft serve the world

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Comments?

Art on this page is from the "Whiteflower" set, at Winter's Pages

The URL for this page is http://www.worthlink.net/~ysabet/spirit/paganpoe_1999.html and it was last updated on July 9, 2000.