Monday, August 20, 2007

The Faerie Ring

Yet another badly written poem! Poetry was not taught well, if at all, when I was in grade school. My only memory of such tuition revolves around learning that I would read the "light voice" in O Captain, My Captain. In high school we were grudgingly taught to identify the basic meters and stylistic techniques. The problem was that teachers did not understand poetry. They could not infect a student with a disease they were immune to; but they might have tried.

Truly I would like to learn. My reading and comprehension is simplistic. I long to put feet, meter, style together to express my thoughts. Sometimes poetry is the only adequate way to express feelings and to experiment with words. Such lovely words the English language provides! Hence, my feeble attempts in this blog. Sometimes I get a piece right but not the whole. Much remains to learn and I am not always patient. The really great poets tell us that they spend years perfecting their work. Forebear; indulge me. Constructive criticism welcome.

The Faerie Ring


Legend laments the “little folk,”
Whom Irish call Danu.
Faeries laugh at silly names while
They hide in wait for you.

Fable warns, “Stay clear of the ring.”
For you’ll enchanted be.
Ensnared, unwary dancers whirl,
Tomorrows never see.

For the faeries spin and weave a spell,
Years as seconds perceived.
You’ll not be free again ‘til faerie tires
Entrapment last relieved.

Is not our life a faerie’s whirl?
Years melting into days.

Child, bride, woman; mother, crone;
Where did the minutes flee?
Love, marriage, devotion and death;
Call back those years to me.
Life, loss, love, longing flicker past;
Brief joys, bittersweet charm;
Ring of life spins too fast.

‘ware not to dance in faerie ring
Savor life’s transient ways.