"Life is the dancer and you are the dance."
— Eckhart Tolle

Friday, April 22, 2011

"Left for Love and Right for Spite" NaPoWriMo #22-Write a poem that uses a pearl of wisdom or wives' tale as its title

In Valhalla,
protecting herself with a blue bead
on a silver string, alternating cycles,
strands of amber spherule, ingesting
them on off days before 
she lights ivory candles in a file;
each one blows out … malevolent presence.
There’s a clover patch outside infinity
fairies tend to it every day,
bringing her batches of 
emerald blessings.   
Balder the Beautiful,
god of joy and gladness,
sits in an armchair amidst confusion;
mistletoe-tipped arrows
fly precisely through the air. 
Death ensues as
earth turns dark, stars have
closed their eyes.
She mourns.


*Balder the Beautiful is a Norse myth about Friday the 13th.
Posted by flaubert at 12:23 AM

42 comments:

  1. IselfApril 22, 2011 at 12:46 AM

    You created a divine Nordic scene there!

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  2. vivinfranceApril 22, 2011 at 2:01 AM

    Some lovely words, as usual.

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  3. JinksyApril 22, 2011 at 2:04 AM

    But you don't tell us the myth - shame! LOL

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  4. Stan SkiApril 22, 2011 at 2:32 AM

    There are bad Fridays and there is Good Friday - today should be a good one...

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  5. ireneApril 22, 2011 at 4:05 AM

    There's an ethereal feel.

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  6. Dave KingApril 22, 2011 at 5:04 AM

    Thoughts tumble out and suggest others.

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  7. AnonymousApril 22, 2011 at 5:35 AM

    I want to know more...really enjoyed this, and especially:
    There’s a clover patch outside infinity
    fairies tend to it every day,
    What a whimsical picture!

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  8. lucychiliApril 22, 2011 at 6:52 AM

    it feels cyclical
    like a moon phase

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  9. MarianneApril 22, 2011 at 7:12 AM

    Ohhh!!! Your words are always so beautiful, like fireworks shooting across a summer sky! "blue bead on a silver string," and "a clover patch outside infinity," and "batches of emerald blessings."

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  10. Laurie KolpApril 22, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    = ) I like the same part as Jeanne and "she lights ivory candles in a file"...

    ~laurie

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  11. barbaraApril 22, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    Love this one, Pam. especially the little things
    (ingesting them on odd days! )
    She seems like a northern Persephone. (remember the cycle of Tennessee "winters"? We're past dogwood, but haven't gotten to blackberry yet. Locust, maybe)

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  12. AnonymousApril 22, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    This is gorgeous. Intoxicating words.

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  13. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 11:43 AM

    Thanks iself.

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  14. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 11:44 AM

    Thanks Viv.

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  15. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 11:44 AM

    No time for that, Jinksy:)

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  16. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    That it is, Stan.

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  17. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    I suppose, Irene.

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  18. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    I went through the old wives' tales and picked up main focal points for this, Dave.

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  19. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    Thanks Jeanne:)

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  20. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    I think you're right, Janet.

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  21. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    Marianne, it is said if you wear a blue bead, it will ward off evil. The other parts are made up.

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  22. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    Laurie, if you light a candle and it goes out, that means evil is present. Nothing is said about the colour of the candle, though.

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  23. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    Don't we all do that, at some point or another in life, Barb? I truly miss the change of seasons in Tennessee. The weather was much milder, than New York, and spring was always glorious with beautiful colours. You are very lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country.

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  24. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    Thanks Nicole.

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  25. ElizabethApril 22, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    This one has a bit of mystery to it, almost as if spoken in a hushed tone, so that bits and pieces are deliberately misheard, or not heard at all. Your usual lovely language and lush imagery lend itself well to this tale of another time, another place.

    Elizabeth

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  26. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 2:53 PM

    Thanks, Elizabeth, and I remember some of those old wives' tales and deliberately added a few extra with my own twist on the scenario:)

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  27. Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP)April 22, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    Ephemeral yet vivid shimmering picture of the title
    Left For Love..... Ending with mourning...bathed in fantastical and beautiful talismans of protection throughout....from the second part if the quote ..." Right for Spite? Pleasure to meet your work!

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  28. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    Thanks Pearl, and I liked your poem as well. It's nice to meet you :)

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  29. AnonymousApril 22, 2011 at 5:14 PM

    I was surprised to read you made stuff up. It reads like a real legend.

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  30. Ron.April 22, 2011 at 6:30 PM

    This one's beyond me, I guess; but I love the use of blue beads on silver strings. Great image.

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  31. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 8:44 PM

    Tilly, some myths I turned around a bit.

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  32. flaubertApril 22, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    Ron, they a single blue bead worn on the body is good to ward off evil, but it is a myth after all.

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  33. MaryApril 22, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    Beautifully written poem on an interesting and unique subject, Pamela.

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  34. Erin DavisApril 22, 2011 at 10:09 PM

    You have a knack for the mythological, Pamela! Very nice.

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  35. DebApril 23, 2011 at 12:55 PM

    Liking your myth poems very much!

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  36. CathyApril 23, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    she lights ivory candles in a file;
    each one blows out … malevolent presence

    Love that, excellent poem. You always find the right myth to work with.

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  37. flaubertApril 24, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    Thanks Mary, I went in my own direction with this prompt.

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  38. flaubertApril 24, 2011 at 12:32 PM

    Thanks Deb, appreciate that:)

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  39. flaubertApril 24, 2011 at 12:32 PM

    Sometimes Cathy and thanks.

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  40. flaubertApril 24, 2011 at 1:01 PM

    Thanks Erin:)

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  41. Tumblewords:April 24, 2011 at 4:52 PM

    I love the magical, mystical feel of this piece - you've written several of this type - I absolutely love the mythicals.

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  42. flaubertApril 25, 2011 at 1:38 PM

    Thanks Susan, the myths do appeal to me.

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