[image from google images]
Bird Woman sits
in the mouth
of the cave.
It is all
jagged stumps
before her.
Vultures are perched
on the tops
of the scrags
fixing her
in their beady eyes.
There are no nightingales
in her world.
It is all stark and bare,
and no soft notes sing.
But when
Sister Wolf howls
in the deep dark
of a lonely midnight,
her heart rises
in response
to her music.
Her head falls back.
From her throat
comes a raw
and piercing cry.
She is keening;
for what
is she keening?
What to do
with this
feeling
of wanting
beyond
brute survival?
She feels the prescience
of Something More
winging on the air,
but does not yet
have a name
for this longing.
[tapped into my Inner Cave Woman
for this one, kids. And she feels pretty darn familiar:)]
This is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBeen there...wait, I'm still there! I try to howl subvocally, though. It upsets the neighbors otherwise.
ReplyDeleteReally liked this one--very mystic, dark feel to it.
Ahh, Sherry, you are making myth from your own story. And I love it. You will find the name when you need it. Fantastic,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Wow! What a fabulous poem on which to end the year - a signature piece, Sherry. Fantastic indeed.
ReplyDeletehappy new year.
ReplyDeleteyou write beautiful poetry, keep it up.
I love this one!
ReplyDeleteThank god for the wanting beyond brute survival. Without that wanting could it even be possible?
Happy New Years to you, maybe beyond-good things come your way. You deserve it :)
xx
*May!
ReplyDeleteThanks, kids. I still have birds flapping around in my head. I am awaiting direction as to what to do with them:)
ReplyDeletePowerful and very beautiful too.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you Sherry, may it bring you all you need.
Susannah x
I always knew you were a birdbrain. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of my own poem "Mercy".
no name for this longing....wow, can fully relate to that this time of year...far to much winter left for me and longing without a name is where my soul is sitting....bkm
ReplyDeleteVery Powerful, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year.
Paul
Wow.
ReplyDeletePicturesque and mythical, with a haunting voice.
ReplyDeleteKeep seeking.
ReplyDeleteWonderful poem with depth and also sadness in this one.
ReplyDeleteWish you a very Happy New Year.
Nice poem Sherry, brings vivid images to mind while reading thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletehttp://touchnindigo.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-found.html
Nice,strong imagery, inner animals and familiars are such a powerful way of getting into the inner and hidden corners of the self ..
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful, Sherry. So glad you shared it another time, as obviously I missed it the first time. You are so very muuch in touch with nature.......
ReplyDeletefabulous mythic piece...full of your signature elements.loved it Sherry.shamanic sublime.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and equally intriguing. Well penned. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd does the keening continue?
ReplyDeletereally dig the style of this one - it really draws the reader into this world.
ReplyDeleteYour piece is so full of emotion!! Great writing :)
ReplyDeleteOnce again, Sherry, you tap into your preternatural connection with the earth and all its creatures. I could picture Bird Woman in my mind, especially her throwing back her head and keening. Brilliant write! Love, Amy
ReplyDeletehttp://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/05/28/military-schooling-the-sunday-whirl/
I felt a bit of my own cave woman arising while reading this. Yes, there's more to just brute surviving..makes me want to howl sometimes too!
ReplyDeletemagical, mystical, beautiful, haunting... one of my favorites!
ReplyDelete♥
dani
magical, mystical, beautiful, haunting... one of my favorites!
ReplyDelete♥
dani
That last stanza is magnificent Sherry!
ReplyDeleteHaunting Sherry, an adventure as always. Be well.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this again, way back in 2010 I had no awareness of Ms. Sherry Blue Sky and her amazing poetry!
ReplyDeleteYes, we do want more than just "to survive"...and beady eyes waiting for us to make one false step might even prevent us from trying in the first place!
ReplyDeleteLovely to get the chance to read this one again. I love these archetypal women you so often return to in your poetry.
ReplyDeleteFantastic.... whenever I read you..I feel close to nature.. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis was magical! I too love this persona! ;D I love nature and your poems makes me want to run into the wind
ReplyDeleteI love your inner cave woman.....it makes me smile. And I love Bird woman. Well, I'm a big fan of women anyway....just sayin'...lol. Great job.
ReplyDeleteI feel the longing in this and it is a primal longing as well. I actually felt my heart skip at the howl! Enjoyed reading your poem.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh-oooooo! This makes me want to howl in recognition.
ReplyDeleteI like this Sherry ~ How I can related to that longing and emotion in the last stanza ~
ReplyDeleteHave a good week ~
Wow, Sherry. Makes me wish I had an inner cavewoman so I could join in, but I suspect I only have an inner wimp these days.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, and good for her!
K