Valhalla
rest day
Sunday is the day of rest for most people
except for cooks, servers, and housewives
They have Mondays
that day hasn't got many customers
they can warm up, Sunday's leftovers
it is said ennui is the day when the brain rest
that is why the slamming of car doors
is frowned upon.
I know of a man when building a home, used
gravestones as building material
He stayed in the house one night
could not stand
the whispering voice let me out of here
it was all a mistake
Moved into the barn shared with two cows
a mule, a dog, and several cats
From history, we know of Viking chieftains
recently converted to Christianity by Irish monks
that when sitting doing nothing, the thought
of sex struck him
took out his knife and nailed his left hand to
the table forswore Christendom
converted back -to Odin and Thor's ancient faith
where Valhalla was a place of song and dance
and free Mjod for all
Categories:
forswore, africa, beach, butterfly,
Form: Blank verse
When, in disgrace with hope and heaven's eyes,
I all alone bemoan my forlorn state;
and curse myself, as one whom men despise.
As a youth, melancholic and unwise,
I felt eternal gloom to be my fate
(when in disgrace with hope and heaven's eyes),
as one to never again wake or rise;
but despair to the end (and terminate),
cursing myself as one whom men despise.
But I forswore this gloom, this hasty demise!
For sorrow and woe can God mitigate,
when in disgrace with hope and heaven's eyes.
So long as I have breath to daily rise,
so long as I have lines to dedicate:
I'll not curse myself, as one whom men despise.
If I have never writ, nor men devised,
then none have known this Truth that's animate
when (in disgrace with hope and heaven's eyes)
I once cursed myself, as one whom men despised.
Categories:
forswore, depression, god, hope, mental
Form: Villanelle
I longed for a love pure as driven snow
and fresh as spring 'ere Youth's brief joys succumb;
but a love never transpired; and, although
denied, I carried on to life's autumn.
A maid, princess, or queen have I never
loved or with an ardent nymph passion-proved
lust's all-consuming fire; deprived forever,
I disavowed former hopes for a beloved.
So, thenceforth unblemished and innocent,
without sin and virtuous from west to east,
I surrendered my youth's prurient bent
and forswore my lusts to dwell as a priest.
Now old and bootless, I ne'er knew desire;
or pierced the flower of a maid on fire.
Categories:
forswore, desire, heartbreak, longing, love,
Form: Sonnet
The time is now, you said, let it be done
I come to cause you one last piece of pain
You chose a day in summer when the rain
Fell soft upon the road like private tears
To work the last dark magic of the keys
There was a time, and not so long ago
I held your key like Smegal held the Ring
As if the holding of it meant some thing
Some plastic crucifix, some rabbit’s foot
Some lucky anchor in the wild seas
The time has come, you say, for you and me
To stand before each other one more time
In some symbolic moment quite sublime
Where I shall fall before you like the rain
Like some dead broken rose, upon my knees
There was a time, not very long ago
You had the key to me, and to my door
But all your rights to me you have forswore
And I shall fain deny you this last wish
To see my tears, and your dark purpose please
For now the time is mine, so come, and go
Come find your key beneath my Welcome mat
Beneath a grey rock under gaslight sat
Before a door forever locked to thee
For I have for mine own heart mine own key
© Gail Foster 2016
Categories:
forswore, love, magic, power, psychological,
Form: Iambic Pentameter
The Great Mother
She was a famous mother of the church worked long hours
to help the poor die- with some dignity- on a straw mat.
Total her dedication but bitter was her heart she prayed
to a god that did not deign to give her an replay just a, long
enduring silence a telepathic phone call never answered
the hum of eternity, futility and nothingness.
The ungodly world recompensed her she was feted and
travelled first class meeting the high and influential and
movie stars were eager to have their photo taken with her.
She kissed the pope´s ring- few women get that accolade-
and the gallant pope with the world´s eye resting on him
kissed her hands. But her hart grew bitter in her old age she
lost faith and in her heart forswore his presence, pushed him
out like a suitor who only had empty promises in his sack.
Categories:
forswore, celebrity, dedication,
Form: Free verse
I longed for love—love pure like driven snow,
untouched and virgin—in the years to come:
but years did come and go until (O woe!)
it, like the fall, decayed in my autumn.
Heartbroken, never I a princess met
or maiden girl with whom to spend long nights
of ardent love. (Alas! best to forget
my heart's too foolish hopes of its delights.)
Unstained by sin, naïve and innocent;
unspoil'd by life and vice in the very least:
I cast'd aside my youth's prurient bent,
forswore my loins' lusts and was my own priest!
Now aged and useless, I've denied all love;
thus life's reproach abides and won't approve.
Categories:
forswore, desire, god, introspection, life,
Form: Sonnet