At Samhain, as the veil thins (30/4/23).
He dwells in the land of the dead,
that hidden space below the surface
of our everyday lives, that dark
lying behind our everyday light.
Summer has passed. As autumn
lengthens into transition, a bridge
between extremes of season,
I retreat from daylight, draw in,
begin dreaming of one who resides
in deep recesses of memory, deep
hidden chambers of the heart.
I forget how to be summer happy.
Where is the lightness of spring?
Flowers fade. My dancing feet
grow slow and still. Yet I’m restless.
More and more his image arises
and the timbre of his voice, calling ...
his movements, the touch of his skin,
the gaze of his eyes meeting mine.
It’s time for me, once again
to dare those depths, return
to that hidden place, that realm
where love also dwells. I was not
coerced, I always go willingly.
I’m mixing pantheons: Persephone belongs to the Greeks, whereas Samhain is a Celtic festival. It is Samhain here as I write this, the date when, traditionally, the veil between the dead and the living thins. It is also the time of year when, according to the myth, Persephone rejoins her husband Hades in the underworld while our world is plunged into winter.
This is a response to my own prompt for Poets and Storytellers United, in Friday Writings #75: A Character from Myth or Fable.
Love the question sitting there right in-between and the close... thinking of stepping willingly into the dark is both scary and brave... this feeling resonates as I write my series...
ReplyDeleteAh yes, I can imagine it does!
DeleteAnd yes, it is indeed one of those powerful in-between spaces – or thresholds.
DeletePersephone is my favourite Greek myth.....for the first time she loved him from her heart....it's the only line I remember from the A D Hope poem Cant say I know anything about Samhain Enjoyed your poem...Rall
ReplyDeleteThere's an A D Hope poem about Persephone? Shame on me for not knowing! In those quizzes to see what Goddess archetype you are, I always come out as Persephone, and it does make a lot of sense in various ways.
DeleteOh yes, yes, Rosemary. And you merged so well the situational feelings and mood with what the present instant thought process was moving top . I felt the smooth transition was seamless, "I retreat from daylight, draw in,begin dreaming of one who resides in deep recesses of memory, deep hidden chambers of the heart." (Segway?? eh, teacher?)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed so very much working with your prompt,using my style. And I always like reading the prompter's work, gives an insight . Thank you)
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I'm glad you enjoyed this prompt, Jim, and my poem. You're always so good to play poetry with!
DeleteYes, I guess that is indeed a segue. :)
Magic is afoot in this poem. I thought Persephone was female. Yes, my poem is not from the prompt. I've never been good at corralling my poets mind to do prompts.
ReplyDeleteYes, Persephone is female; the 'he' is the one she thinks of rejoining. I love your 'magic' comment; thank you!
DeleteI like the melodic feel of transitioning. When what we held deep in our hearts and minds like a cherished dream becomes evermore real, it seems we are preparing to cross over the bridge and return to that realm.
ReplyDeleteVery perceptive of you, Penelope!
DeleteI love this retelling so much. And I've always suspected that Persephone went because she wanted to, even needed to. Regardless of what Demeter might say.
ReplyDeleteEspecially regardless of that! l recall my mum, in my late teens, saying smugly to her friends in my presence, 'Rosemary tells me everything.' I would smile sweetly and think, 'Little do you know.'
Deletei LOVE "I forget how to be summer happy."and her slipping back willingly - I always thought of her unhappily going back. I like this a lot!
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love this! Beautifully penned! 🙏
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love that you say that! Thank you.
DeleteIt is a very beautiful take on the myth. I have always thought that she does not go back willingly. That it was more like a contract. An interesting legend nevertheless, and you breathe life into your character.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWell, it's really me putting myself into her shoes, so there may be some divergence from the original story.
"More and more his image arises
ReplyDeleteand the timbre of his voice, calling ...
his movements, the touch of his skin,
the gaze of his eyes meeting mine."
Yes, it's clear to see that she always go willingly! He sounds irresistible!
LOL
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