A seasonal poem inspired by etymology.
(Image description: A photo of a field of snowdrops lit up by a bright, distant light.) Credit: Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash
It’s now only a little over a week until Imbolc, and I decided to write a poem for the upcoming festival. I’ve been re-reading through Arin Murphy-Hiscock’s The House Witch. In one section, she explains how the word focus can be understood as fire, center, and hearth, to name a few of the meanings. It can also mean “point of convergence”. These are simple, yet poignant definitions, a richness that can be applied to poetry.
With Brighid’s complex connections to fire, focus embraces the essence of Her holiday, Imbolc. Pulling on the threads of a word and morphing it into something more felt very contemplative to me. I may have to experiment more with this method in the future.
The Focus of Spring
The Focus of Spring
the center,
the stirring
The tending of the fire,
the hearth burgeoning
with new life and promises
In the belly of the Earth
gestating, whispering
of the new hopes to come
Keeper of the Fire,
You stoke the embers
as you do the dreams.
Everything is fresh,
eyes closed in anticipation
hearts pulsing in excitement.
Dreams of running in fields
tasty food and milk for the young
the stirrings of restful joy
The sun’s trek
mirroring the flame
of the cthonic hearth
Gentle gazes of the sun
tendrils of flame
warming the body and spirit
The Focus of Life,
the brilliant flame,
is kindled with Your approach.
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