The workshop doesn't teach poetry.
It simply preserves
the threads of voices
woven into
words and emotions.
The diwata believes that every poem carries
a piece of its poet's soul.
Time stands still
in this enchanted world.
In the cloudless sky,
the stars dance
around the moon.
Beyond the window,
alitaptap drift
across endless fields
of sampaguita flowers.
Their fragrance lingers
in every corner
of the workshop.
Ditsy blonde mother of Red Riding Hood
Sent her little girl alone to the wood…
Once upon a present time
That would be a heinous crime,
Mom and grandma for neglect would be sued.
Cinderella story, of poor and rich,
Used and abused by stepmother, a witch!
The orphan’s mere breakthrough -
Lost and found crystal shoe,
Another parable of system glitch!
It gets better with a Snow White story,
Her dear stepmom’s nothing short of gory.
Epitome of chill -
To kill or not to kill.
A horror or a fairytale glory?!
And last not least, Hansel and Gretel grief,
Against good natured humankind belief,
Parents, biological -
Utterly illogical,
Kids saved by their own wit! What a relief!
FAMILIUS-:-
boon
dear
bosom
watercolored
figures
a FAMILY GATHERS
real life
intimacy
rooted
adorned
naïve art
of the VAST BELIEVERS
painted
folklore
scene
portrait
resemblance
red mountain spirits
sacred beings sent to help
Apache people
the well-known trickster
coyote important too
in native folklore
A star once floated from East to West
He now punishes those who abuse their power
Snarling under his hook of a nose
The fire orange sun beats down on his blood red goblin face.
His bark is a thunder bolt
Honor is his name and he will cease at nothing to preserve it
From the Heian to Tokugawa, through the surrender of ‘45
From countless Seppukus to the Yasukuni Shrine
He flew through the night which followed Abe’s killing
He watched with disdain when the troops raided Nanjing
“Call me ugly as you wish, but you are the true pigs of the sky,” he said
“With your bombs and swords you have given me endless work”
The flying dog is here to stay, and to judge all who make evil
His face will float above forests and decorate museums
Do not be the reason why the red goblin glows
Do not let this mighty flying dog make an example of your money hungry soul
He will haunt you like no other as he has for centuries
Bow to your masters, and maintain your dignity
Or whatever is left will be ripped and turned into dust
By the flying dog who they call “Tengu”
upon the Rase a troublesome crone
who meddled in the Rasen folk
for she a witch!
a witch! their slant and well
she laid upon a cow a cursied blight
a cursied spell
and lo would not this neighbour’s cow
go to the milking parlour so
this neighbour’s daughter fraught and fair
to seek a wise man, she that hour
left in haste to hear of words
and met with him though quite by chance
for he appeared to her when needed
invited in somewhat expected
and knew did he of her unrest
as heating in the fireplace a red hot poker
readying
and stoked, enflamed the fire roared
and from by the Rase the witch was heard
to scream and cry
you see now in her weakened state
another troubled Rasener
took heed upon the lowered crone
and struck her hand with a blade had he
and brought to her all of her eves
that drew the blood of taintedness
and scream once more
then again made three
no more trouble will she cause
said the wiseman confidently
and the witch skulked away
her powers lost
made free were then the Rasen folk
and the cow went in to give them milk
O Vinegar Tom
your belly is long
your head is of ox
your body is dog
you live with a witch
do Devilish bids
you dance to her song
O Vinegar Tom
...Since that day there has been a cross
perched high atop the bluff,
and when the town grew up they thought
they should show him their love.
That’s how we became Sintertown,
their way to show respect,
when the first cross rotted away
the quickly built the next.
The one you see now was installed
back in nineteen-thirty,
and it’s still standing proudly since
they made it of concrete.
It may be trendy in our times
to mock the settlers brave,
to feel bad for the Indians,
and yes, mistakes were made.
Some might not even like this tale,
but we still tell it yet,
since even now I can’t recall
a more heroic death.
When little kids ask for stories
Regale them of our lore and its glories.
Listening with rapt notice
Tales of champions and menaces.
One and all exclaim with awe
Hearing about our Gods.
They don't die
Live within us and fly.
Burn like a phoenix
Survive with their tactics.
Look beyond the veil
When the fiercest quail.
Never lose their light
Even in the darkest of nights.
With a love so perfect
They attack and protect.
For the ones they care
Their souls laid bare.
Honor their word with pride
Till their last glide.
So hush, my child
Heed the noble and wild.
As all princes and peasants
knelt before our legends.
Tír na nÓg - A Tragic Epic Saga
ye hear, of a leprechaun and a unicorn who met in a field’s corner
a he and she, she killed by a tree, when it fell he couldn’t warn her
** In Spirit with Trees **
I feel sad, feeling a kind of tragedy
When I see that a storm
has broken…
has felled trees.
Grass everywhere green, rises.
Flowers splendidly gracing…And
Blessed crops progress us all… But,
The fig, olive, walnut, willow, ash, and magnolia —
The palm, maple, oak, redwood, and evergreen —
The any and every kind of tree affect me,
As I breathe and dearly perceive.
I must confide, my curiosity
about trees has deepened
Since decades ago, when I read
some Japanese folklore
Tells of the believing their ancestors
Could remain here becoming spirits in trees.
That idea — plus the knowledge about how eons of trees
evolved since their days amidst the dinosaurs —
Has
…increased my awe of them, as I see
growth and strength for purposes, and to possibly
inspire as towering sillouhettes against the sky…
Beautifully awakening wonder, with a mysterious
Sensing
Trees may stand waiting communicate.
———————————————————————————————————
(c) sally young eslinger 7/6/23
Thanks be to God—-
Good Goddess Bona Dea
We celebrate Your rites
Female only festivals.
All men are out of sight.
You safeguard our fertility
As we worship at your feet
With flowers, wine and vine leaves
And a serpent, when we meet.
So Bona Dea praise you.
Give us fruitfulness in birth.
Empower us to be feminine
And champion our worth
Don't eat the bear
and the bear won't eat you
Don't stomp on flowers
Don't spit on the dew
If you are a bad person
your life will worsen
But if you are good
then there's no need for cursin'
Yoi yoi la la la la yoi yoi la.
Hansel and Gretel
Bread crumbs lead the way outside
Witch in the forest
Today is an American folk event
Unraveled by traditions and etiquette
Vixens ask men on a date
Women hoping to find a mate
Sadie Hawkins Day we celebrate
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