Festive cheeseboard
Christmas is coming; get Nash to Resus stat!
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Tag Archives: Seasons
Summer skies
(with permission)
Summer skies. Copyright © 2015 Pathematica
Summer sun peeps through golden halo,
Glimmering as the dawn mists rise;
Forest and pasture greet the fey glow,
Shimmering under summer skies.
River banks heave with reed and mallow,
Bustling at the summer's height;
Dragonflies flit past weeping sallow,
Dazzling in their steel-blue light.
Grasshoppers in the meadow
Chirrupping through the breathless haze;
Butterflies near the hedgerow
Fluttering through these summer days.
Bearing the fruit of nature's treasure,
Summer days fall and spirits rise;
Flowers and children feel her pleasure,
Flourishing under summer skies.
Jötunheimrs breath
(with permission)
Gael. Copyright © 2014 Pathematica
Hwaet!
Feel the force
Beating on embattled Gar-Dane;—
Know the source
Jötunheimr wreaks its ice-bane.
Frost grips fast
Sons of Cyning Thrym come stealing;
At the blast
Atheling and Jarl are reeling.
Wind flails thresh
With the weight of Utgard's hammer,
Burning flesh
Blizzards rage and storm-wights clamour.
Mighty Thor, with peals of thunder,
Wield proud Mjölnir from the tundra;
Snowstorms bite as giants plunder;
Cleave the Jötun frost asunder.
Come the chill
Skrymir schemes to cut through marrow
From the hill
Piercing bone with ice-wrought arrow.
Rime-racked trees
Hrímnir works his artful goading;
Face the freeze
Rivers pause with dark foreboding.
Fenrir growls
Skulking on the frozen rimeland,
Skadi howls
Echoing from Jötnar heimland.
Mighty Thor, from shafts of lightning,
Wield proud Mjölnir, ice-foes sighting;
Nether frosts and winds are biting;
Quell the Jötnar in their fighting,
Hark!
Here comes Mr fox
(with permission)
Here comes Mr Fox. Copyright © 2015 Pathematica
Along the hills and valleys of the shire,
Through copse and field and unsuspecting farm,
Uncowed by Grim, or haughty country squire,
The master of the cunning plan is stalking.
With floating tail receding in his wake,
A totem of his præternatural charm,
He hoists his colours on life's fickle stake,
Defiant in the paths that he is walking.
With flourish to the right and circle to the left,
He moves around his world like warp about the weft,
In graceful stride, with movement, bold and deft,
Immersed in artful strategy and wisdom.
With vixen for a bride and pups to feed in den,
He ventures through a land usurped by selfish men;
With steadfast heart, he roams on fell and glen,
The undefeated monarch of his kingdom.
Love shall find a way
(with permission)
Falling softly. Copyright © 2015 Pathematica
Every morning, I have seen her.
Every day, my thoughts stray with her.
Every night, my dreams revere her—
Love has touched my world.
Every morning, he walks by me.
Every day, I look inside me.
Every night, I wonder why he
Never speaks a word.
Why is it my sinews are so weak now?
Why is it my courage is so meek now?
Would creation tumble if I dared to speak now?
Love, come gird my heart!
Can it be he stumbles to my side now?
Soft! He moves to speak, mayhap tongue-tied now.
World, be still! My heart is braced and open wide now—
Love, come, speak thy part!
————————————————————————
"Miss, good morrow. May I walk beside you?"
"Sir, with pleasure, let us share the fine view."
"I have walked here often, would that I might guide you."
"I would follow thee."
"I have watched you walk among the flowers,
"Marked your joy, as you while away the hours.
"I have prayed, as you shelter from the showers,
"Thou wouldst walk with me."
"I have watched you walk along the parkways,
"Lift your eyes, as you listen where the lark plays.
"I have hoped, through the brightest and the dark days,
"Thou wouldst walk with me."
————————————————————————
Every morning, laughing through the heather,
Year on year, braving every turn of weather,
Sons and daughters playing there together—
Love shall find a way.
Love has found its way.
In shallows
(with permission)
In shallows. Copyright © 2015 Pathematica
إن شاء الله
I have lived on oceans;
Dwelt where stars and sunrise
Fill the vast unfathomed deep.
I have seen rare wonders:
Soaring birds; and giants,
Softly rolling in their sleep.
I stormed raging tempests,
Pitching as the waves fell
Crashing down on battered mast.
I crossed ice-packed waters,
Chasing frozen mountains,
Caught before the Arctic blast.
Now I face tomorrow,
Drawn to one last mooring
Lashed behind the iron maid.
Sent to rock in shallows,
Trimmed with halting memories,
Listing, while my
Dreams and sunsets
Slowly fade …
Into shade.
Robin of the red breast
(with permission)
The Robin. Copyright © 2015 Pathematica
The morning breaks on banks of snow;
The dawn light wakes the world below.
The dancing flakes flit to and fro;
The bare branch shakes as sharp winds blow.
By field, still fraught from autumn plough,
The winter wrought the lifeless bough.
With snowcap caught on mountain brow,
The days, drawn short, are shortest now.
But, up in the highest treetop,
With carefree staccato skip-hop,
A darting, dashing, red-bib-flashing
Serenader of stormy weather
Trims each syncopating feather,
The hushed-sound, snow-bound world left on hold.
And, greeting the chilly morning,
Imbued with the spell of dawning,
A rousing, thrilling, heartfelt trilling
Engages the gloomy meadow
With airs, sibilant and mellow;
A minstrel bringing carols of old.
When the days are grown short and the spirit is low,
Then the Robin bids the dark days go!
When the shadows hold fast and the nights are grown long,
Then the Robin scalds the darkness with song.
As the winter must come, and the summer must end,
So the Robin knows what seasons send;
And though hardship must fall, still the dark days will end,
And the Robin owes that heartache shall mend,
Then, let every vexed soul venture love, hope and peace!
A mother's love
Lullaby for a polar bear
(with permission)
A mother's love. Copyright © 2015 Pathematica
The snow is warm,
My precious child;
The winter storm
Is always mild;
While you are sleeping by my side,
The world keeps promises,
The world is mine.
You close your eyes,
You've drunk your fill;
With quivering sighs,
Your lids fall still;
Your world is waiting by your side
To keep its promises;
Your world fills mine.
So, softly sleep
Till dreams awake,
And hearts shall keep
The vows we take;
The world will send another day
To keep its promises
(To keep our promises)
To keep our faith.
And when you grow up, we can go and kill some baby seals. Nom nom nom.
——————————
Softness holds me;
Peace enfolds me;
Tender eyes now
Fill this strange new world.
Soft breath thrills me;
Warm milk fills me;
Silent thoughts now
Lulling me to sleep.
Dreams are calling; eyes now closing;
Sleep is falling; warmth enclosing.
I know true love
Is waiting by my side
And love shall bide.
And when I'm a bit older we should go and check out those cuddly things with short legs flopping about over there.
Devotional for Litha
Apotheosis. Copyright © 2014 Pathematica
Climbing the sacred mound,
Joined with the solemn band;
Glimpses of rising ground,
Red-hued from flickering brand;
Night-scented herbs abound,
Bruised on the mellow land;
Stumbling, with muted sound,
Gain the summit;
Gather at the
Crown …
Rumours of dawn appear
Over the distant fell;
Family and friends draw near,
Caught in the binding spell;
Skies over outlands clear,
Fanfares from songbirds swell;
Sunrise, at last, is here—
Summer solstice!
Light of heaven
Blazing down …
Blessings fall; one and all,
On this new midsummer's day.
Life's in thrall at the call
From the world of men and fey.
Skies are blue, woods are green,
Nature murmurs, as the
Fruitful goddess nurtures,
Fishes dream in the stream,
Meadows buzz and children play.
Jack in green, in his prime,
Basking on the summer lawn;
Faerie kind, marking time,
Dancing with the summer fawn.
Fields are lush, kine well-fed,
Nature's bounties falling,
Nature's heralds calling:
Hark, the thrush, overhead,
Minstrel, to the Greenwood born!
At this feast of the sun,
Linger memories of dark winters gone;
As before, so anon:
Sleepless as the ocean,
With its tides in motion,
Seasons pass—time moves on,
While the pale king sleeps in Avalon,
Solstice fires are burning,
Silver wheels are turning,
Mysteries bid the journey run.
Days that waxed now must wane—
So the Oak King must abjure his reign.
Water falls—fire's bane;
Distant drumming as the
Holly King is coming.
Tempests pass; hills remain—
So the Oak King will return again.
Dance, now, to the drummer;
Live the song of summer,
Lend your voice to earth's refrain.
————————————
Homage to JS Bach, WA Mozart,
GB Gardner, DED Valiente
An it harm none, do what you will.
Pax vobiscum
Processional for the May Queen
Now is the fading winter's discontent
Made glorious Beltane by this summer's dawn.
Nunc appropinqua. Copyright © 2013 Pathematica
Veils now fall aside,
Come the maid—nature's bride,
Drawn, by light and shade,
To the forest glade.
Spirits of the wood,
Deep of root, proud in bud,
May your Jack in green
Find his maiden queen.
Winds that blow from west and north,
Send your spirits,
May comes forth;
Winds that blow from south and east,
Send your spirits,
Jack prepares his wedding feast.
Spirits of the water, spirits of the earth,
Share your bounty,
Share their mirth;
Spirits of the fire, new-risen from the flame,
Share your ardour;
Love will flourish by your name.
————————————
As the bride treads softly forward,
May buds blossom at her feet …
————————————
Sylvan folk, arrayed,
Bow before nature's maid.
Bursting bud and flowers in bloom,
Rouse her dormant groom.
From his verdure, lithe and green,
Jack arises for his queen.
As the mayflower draws the bee,
So the May Queen calls to thee.
Earth below and sky above:
Bride and groom unite in love;
Water runs with ardent fire,
Lifting passions higher.
————————————
Over greens, decked with ribbons,
Rise the maypoles, girt by garlands.
Near the brook by the meadow
Dip the mayfly and the swallow.
From the charmed Cnoc na Teamhrach,
Troop the gentlefolk of Danu.
Through the veil of hereafter,
Drift the songs of joy and carefree laughter.
————————————
Heart with heart entwined;
Limb with limb, love shall bind.
Gōdspēde Jack in green
And his loving queen!
