As we wait at the threshold of Imbolc, marked and celebrated in the first days of February, we await the arising (in her maiden aspect) of the Triple Goddess Brighe; later St Brigid, Bridie; the dedicatee of Brides-wort (meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmaria).

Tonight my dVerse poetry friend Kim in north Norfolk encourages us – and you perhaps, dear reader? = to focus on lists of words issued on opthalamists’ “Can you read this?” charts, to select some groups (my choices are below in bold) and to include them in the given order in poetry of any form.

nose – one – cause – even
were – crone – our – summer
name – use – means – arose
near – can – remove – sure
crow – verse – see – renew
assume – once- van – sum
aware – caves – sea – cream

Kim writes: Your challenge is to choose one or two sets of words and write a poem using them in the order in which they appear. If you’re feeling particularly inspired, you could use all of the words. You can write in any form you wish, but I imagine haiku or tanka would be interesting for one or two sets, and a range of forms for more.
        awaiting the maiden goddess: Imbolc


when we were pregnant - crone in our summer days

of  Godyssey, whoredom, motherhood -

the names we chose to use became

the means by which we (Rose) arose

to hawk with Crow, to wedge with Raven - 

to spread verse on the wingèd sky, and see

the place upon my sleeve where might renew

the Moth of which became aware as, in the 

first of caves, sea-dreampt St Bridie dear,

blessing the teats of her Cow and the Ewe

and making butter from their cream

 

© Kathy Labrum McVittie 28 January 2024