Chanting Voices

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Do you hear my voice?  I sing with a voice, I did not know I had
I chant a song. I am one of many  that hum in the air,
filling the void of the past, in a land of famine and waste.  
Here she comes, the seidr-wise woman, long past her fertile years.
She holds her staff, taking her place among the piers
Our music vibrates, solely for her ears. 
She sits on her platform, while we sway and dance.
She keeps her eyes locked in hypnotic trance. 
High on the platform, she lives in two worlds.
She foretells the future, reaching into the vast.
She is filler of the sound, while seeking the past. 
She brings back to the Fjord fish for our tables, 
Healing and guiding....she sees what we can't.
As our song quiets down, her voice is a whisper.
Like a far away land, is quite distant, a gasp
Coming from something strange, from something long ago told.
She heals, and has the power…
Sits as mountain of spirit, so bold
The cold offered me, lays out there, far,
among the wasted barren land, and into the stars. 
I hear the others chant, as I offer mine
The rain has sent me often songs.
Other ballads the wind brought me.
The waves carried them to shore.
Birds shaped words into tones.
She sways and hears the piercing bird calls.
Sounding like cackling of old hags.
Growing fierce of four legged creatures.
All disorient is the scent of the earth that pours from our mouths.
And talking sound as if from the crowns of trees. 

   
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For Debbie's contest "The Shaman's Way"
Based on Northern European Viking Shamanism
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Brown Avatar
April 19, 2011 at 5:38 AM
Congratulations on your well deserved win Carrie in Debbie Guzzi's contest "The Shaman's Way". Love, Carol
Mannan Avatar
April 17, 2011 at 10:01 PM
This is indeed a masterpiece Carrie. Heartiest congrats for this win.
Guzzi Avatar
April 17, 2011 at 4:54 AM
I love the extreme cultural responsibility, the group ethic this belief system puts forth and excellent showing of the place of CRONE or aged, respected elder, in a society! Congrad's on your win.
Sweetheart Avatar
April 16, 2011 at 8:46 PM
Congrats Carrie on your top spot win in Debbie's contest .. enjoy another well deserved win for an excellent entry luv..
Mehta Avatar
April 16, 2011 at 7:16 PM
Congratulations on the win in the contest of debbie, Carrie
Brown Avatar
April 5, 2011 at 4:45 AM
Thank you for sharing your amazing poetry Carrie. I enjoyed reading it and hope to read more of it soon. May you always find the inspiration to continue with your writing endeavors. Wishing you the very best in the contest. Love, Carol
Guzzi Avatar
April 4, 2011 at 3:58 PM
Ahhhhhhhh HA! Someone is listening to mama! LOL Gotcha! Now you go give me some more punctuation, rethink the line alyout, and I will be very happy!There my gal! Light & Love
Devonshire Avatar
April 4, 2011 at 3:08 PM
What an interesting portrait of this female "shaman" from Viking lore, Carrie. I love the images and the story behind the poem. Wishing you success in Deb's contest -- but you won't need luck to win with this. Love, Carolyn
Onclaud Avatar
April 4, 2011 at 2:20 PM
enchanting route you took for this one, carie.. well-penned with rich history! winning luck to you! :) huggs!
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