Starlit Memories
“…recently scenes of early life have stolen into my mind like breezes blown…”
Samuel Coleridge
Midnight reveries tickle my memories
When I see bright asterisms ascend
Through rivers of stars summers past I see
Constellations retell their starry legends,
Storied tales of fantasy in starlight,
I search the sky for my celestial friends
Lying in grassy fields on warm summer nights
Spellbound eyes saw the sparkling stars at play
My imagination soared with the eagle’s flight
Upon the evening star a wish I prayed,
A plea for peace on fiery comet tails,
Dreams star dusted in the Milky Way
In childhood innocence, wonder prevailed
On astral magic winds like hidden grails
10-11-22
Contest: Writing Challenge – “T” Past Memories
Sponsor: Constance La France
“T” form chosen – Terza Rima
Rhymes checked with www.rhymezone
Aquila, or the Eagle, is a constellation seen in the summer sky.
She cried
All the tears
Of her body
Of his heart
Of her mind
Until
Only his soul
Can reveal herself
Can transform himself
In the flood of the Nile
This is the way it is
That flew away
The first Imperial Aquila
Lonely
Heavenly
Invisibly
In search of fourteen pieces
Stolen
Scattered
Dismembered
Of her Love
Aby, New York, 20th May 2022
Oak wears green taffeta
Dancing in March's brisk breeze
Sometimes shakes ill at ease
Are oaks in Africa?
Looking at Aquila?
An affair with Altair gee !
Oak dances with redbud
Changes partners with speed
Forsythia now is freed
When she see this wild dud
A philanderer, stud.
Tulip puts on brown tweed
No need for spring's light clothes
In the midst of her throes
Sponsor: Emile Pinet
Contest: Hexasonnetta
Date written: 03/23/45
Nonsense just for fun!
In the secret place of thunder
Before the rain
You speak my name
At the crack of lightening
My soul, set ablaze with restlessness
Awaits the awakening.
What is this thunder rumbling
Down valleys of distant memory?
What is this agitation
Leading to contemplation
Of thoughts and words and ways
I have revealed my heart?
Why does yesteryear seem like yesterday
With the same thunder and the same rain?
I hear Your voice name me as someone not the same...
Needing the rain to kiss my tears
Renewing me
In the secret place of thunder
I release my anger and You see what You have always known
In the place where I cannot hide
No matter what manner of thunder lies within
I hear my name
Like gentle rain whitewashing the porch steps
Which lead to my door.
by Barbara Aquila
I studied the Roman epitaph
Translation provided by museum staff
Of a retired centurion of the 6th Legion
Scratched in letters three inches tall
on a gravestone found near Hadrian’s Wall
The name reads Titus Flavius Aquila
Praenomen, Nomen, Cognomen
Personal name, clan name, family name
Quite impressive
But I’ll keep mine just the same
I whispered the name and pondered
And couldn’t help but wonder
Could it have occurred to him, could he have thought
That two thousand years in the future
His name would still be remembered? Most likely not
A part of me likes to think,
I do that sometimes, especially with drink
In well-earned retirement, From his villa in the sky
A particular Roman centurion, heard his name echo
He looked my way, Smiled and winked
Last summer was dry
Grass turned brittle
Beetles devoured roses
Fumes from sweltering engines swept over
dusty streets like ghosts.
The ground cracked.
Bits of dirt crumbled in my hands.
Bone dry desert thoughts
Puffy lip,tongue cleaving thoughts
like what if memories become mirages?
Wild thoughts clothed in sackcloth and ashes
like what if grief grafts itself into my soul
so deeply
it becomes who I am?
That summer,loneliness cleaved to me
pulling me down to the dust
until I could taste it.
It was a dry,sere summer.
I prayed for sun darkening clouds
so that rain would trickle down your body
cleansing you from pain.
Your courage cracked.
As you prayed for death
bits of hope crumbled in my hands.
My eyes searched yours.
Like a vapor or a mist, your spirit left.
In but a moment you were no longer there.
by Barbara Aquila
The wind swept up in a tormenting gale,
Both the ground below and the sky were frail,
History repeats or so they do say,
All the elements released on this day.
Fire consumed earth with its passing flame,
Enraged were the oceans, nothing was tame,
Volcanic ash filled the air like a cloud,
Thunder was clapping as if it were proud.
No one could see in the gathering sky,
Up high above a great eagle did fly,
Talons on the ready to strike his prey,
This son of none, he was flying this way.
Dove down, flash of lightning, relentless speed
Accurate hurricane, in time of need
***
March 7, 2017
White Wolf
Darren White
If we could cross the sunset skies,
We'd never need a place to lie,
Finding ourselves above all else,
We could fly until the end of time.
But what goes up must also come down,
Although in spirit form we shall be joined,
So fly we will for all eternity,
Perhaps we'll find our true energy.
On a serpent's tail, we'll ride till then on Draco,
And float down the river of Eridanus,
Ride on the winged horse of Pegasus,
Visit the harp of Lyra and gaze at Vega.
Stay in the summer triangle with Aquila,
Then off to the winter triangle to gaze at Sirius,
With so many wonders in all the constellations,
We may even find if all the myths are true.
But if they aren't I'll still have my star you.
AQUILA
Aquila
constellations combinations
permutation patterns her plight
of
water and flight
Eagle
wings soaring powerfully
wind ravages plummeting
her
freedom light
Feather
spiralling slowly lingering
breeze floats cradle embracing
single
winged slight
River
rippling chasing competitions
downward streams drive forward
dreams
floating white
Aquila
unrestrained in naked swim
cooling tranquil Aquarian
finds
Eagles height
And…..
With
Feathered Quill
Water and flight
Write
*(“Aquila” is the Latin and Romance language word for “Eagle” representing the bird carrying “Jupiter’s” thunderbolts in Greco-Roman Mythology—the constellation of Aquarius—)
© Kim van Breda—7 November 2014
GREET PRISCA AND AQUILA, MY CO-WORKERS IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO RISKED THEIR NECKS FOR MY LIFE ROMANS 16:3-4
PRISCA (ALSO CALLED PRISCILLA) and Aquila
Were first-century lay missionaries who accompanied Paul on his travels
His praise of these two indicates that their dedication was exceptional
I wonder if I am ready to risk my neck for the sake of another
Could I be that other-centered?
These questions lead meto ponder what my motivation
For what I do
How ready I am to tend to those in need
I must constantly consider these things
My society pulls me toward individualism and self self-orientation
Placing others’ concerns before my own
Going the extra mile
Doing without something I enjoy
Allowing myself to be uncomfortable or inconvenienced
These are tiny but significant actions
Enable me to risk my neck for the sake of another
Readings and Gospel
Romans 16:3-9, 22-27
Psalm 145:2-5, 10-11
Luke 16:9-15
Aquila (The Eagle) Constellation
Strong and brave, you are my eagle.
Soaring strength; gliding above earth.
Your light shines past the dark of day.
And brightens love along the way.
Your kindness perceives my wishes.
You fill me fully with your love.
Your helpfulness precedes my need.
You sacrifice your time, good deeds.
Because you are so caring, dear,
The brightest star both far and near!
A humble gift with this love rhyme,
Shall shine throughout eternal time.
Oh, Aquila, constellation.
Gaily in this new kingdom found.
The deed to your bright shining star,
Bought for you where angels abound.
High in the heavens up above,
I give this gift with all my love.
Far away, gleaming in the sky.
Waits your wishing star named, “Ingrid”.
Commemorating life, we two.
Anniversary love renewed.
Forever, dreaming as one heart.
Loving as millennium stars.
© Name withheld for contest
April 15, 2010
I watched Aquila
Fly with his eagles
At sunset
Upon a rock
I sat
With a sky tinged with gold
In my heart
In my body within
Such faint stirrings
That I felt
To begin
A girl for a man
My Aquila
At sunset
Came to me
Heart filled with love
Kissed me gently
And knew
Such faint stirrings
In my body
In my heart
That my Aquila knew
Always
At sunset
I watched my Aquila
In a sky tinged with gold
That one day
Our girl child
Would fly
With her father
In a sunset sky
I sang to my Aquila
Of amethysts
Soft light
Eagle feathers
Of magic
He held me
In more ways
Then he knew
I felt his heart
Through his eyes
Deep and blue
That we have our castle
In the valley of the stars
The Place Of The Rising Moon
Where I searched
Yet could never find
I found ,with Aquila
That love
Magic too
Is revealed
When it is needed
Destinies and journeys
Forever sealed
With you
My Aquila
Rested against a tree
With a little magic
and a little wine
We snuggled down
And I made him mine
Together we dreamt
Of Moondust trails
The way west
To find our place
Amongst the trees
Our nest
It is soon
I feel it within
We have come so far
We are near
To the place
Of The Rising Moon
Magic can never be undone
This is the way
Of stars
Of magic
Of me
My journey with Aquila
Has begun
We left that dark wood
Where together
We stood
We fought
The Wraiths’ night
My Aquila
His mighty longbow
That love
Always survives the onslaught
To find a Shadowfire
In the Wraiths’ night
I carried it carefully
It must be given
When the time is right
This is the way
Of stars
Magic
Of me
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