Showing posts with label poetry based on classical mythology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poetry based on classical mythology. Show all posts

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Circe by Diane Dehler




Circe

Diane Dehler/ USA


Circe: renowned for knowledge
of herbs and spiritual purification.

I dreamed
last night
of Circe, pursuing
the Moon.

Twilight
spilled red
water color passion
indigo gold,

Smudges
of moonlight
ink across
her face.

Circe, I said - wait
my poem needs you.
She tossed white, wild sage
onto my sleeping body.

In dream
I was powerless
naked before
her beauty.

Rising to a
zenith, Moonlight
escaped my grasp
and Circe’s kiss.

published February 2013 by The Criterion

Thursday, November 07, 2013

I Gave Birth to a Star by Diane Dehler


I Gave Birth to a Star
         to baby C

I gave birth   tonight   to a star,
Alone   unattended   only me
On   a dark wooded   path.
A path that was lonely   and no
Other hands but mine, to reach
Between my legs and grasp   my
Newborn child   a star that flashed
away into streaks   of light.

I cried as all new mothers cry
And more   because I scarcely
Touched it   never suckled it
Never crooned to my star.
I thrust my hands   angrily into
The face of the sky   protesting.

What am I left for my pain
And my waiting,  my burden of
Expectations weighing me down
Expectation growing   becoming
Swollen as firm and hard as my
Breasts   promising I too would
Be born in the season   of birth.

I sat on the dark path raining
Hard   bitter tears   on the
Ground   Later the dim light
Of my heart led me home.

I had a child once   I would
Later say   my child was
A star   that burst into light,
Became a white image burning
Across the face of the sky.
Oh yes   women   would answer
A star   aren’t they all?


You don’t understand   I implored
One long ago night I gave birth
To a star   with no midwife to
Comfort me   cool my burning brow.
I had only a dark path   a cool moon
And my love  to welcome my dying
Child  a star.