She spreads her hands
where she stands; treads
through sands that shift
beneath the drift of Time's
lifted breath; she sifts
for gold -- for days of old --
but finds she holds only chaff,
chaff that is damp and cold.
Hi, Gretchen. I was thinking about winter, which led to Persephone, then to Demeter. Really, who knows why the mind works as it does? I can't fathom my own workings, but I love the way one thing leads to another.
really nice rhythm in this....and there i think might be a bit of gold in the past but you have to sift through a lot of chaff to find it....the shifting sands of time is a nice touch karen...
She sifts for gold but holds only chaff-sometimes what we thought was important or valuable when we look back is not always so any more. There is a sadness in the poem but a truth to. Enjoyed reading your piece :-)
..who knows what secrets are hidden on that chaff... who knows what more of a gold could be found on it... quite of a contemplative read you have here... happy new year.. smiles..
So if Persephone had not relented and fell in love with Hades we'd have a perpetual growing season? Move over Demeter I am going to mourn with you. I bet that damn Cupid did it...come on honey let's dig until Hades home is open to sunlight.
Wonderful, Karen. The myth of Demeter is very inspiring, but I love how you have worked the words around her regret, leaving us on the final note of 'damp and cold'.
very much enjoyed this piece. The rituals and mysteries surrounding Demeter/Persephone/Kore are endlessly fascinating because they are drawn from a deeply human place - where life and death circle one another and yet also give each to each. You have expressed the emotional endings in this cycle beautifully, and as many have said above, with due weight. In such a short piece that is quite something. I'd love to know what you make of my Thesmophoria sequence (which is about the same subject).
Nicely done. What inspired you to write about Demeter?
ReplyDeleteHi, Gretchen. I was thinking about winter, which led to Persephone, then to Demeter. Really, who knows why the mind works as it does? I can't fathom my own workings, but I love the way one thing leads to another.
DeleteSmiles.
Nice take on the dawn of winter ~ But its only for a season and soon mother and daughter will be reunited ~
ReplyDeleteThat's what keeps us going, Grace!
Deletereally nice rhythm in this....and there i think might be a bit of gold in the past but you have to sift through a lot of chaff to find it....the shifting sands of time is a nice touch karen...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brian. Now I'm thinking we need a Rumplestiltskin to spin it!
DeleteAh, sometimes you don't find gold in the place you think it will be...but with patience I think it can be found.
ReplyDeleteJust hold on. This, too, shall pass.
DeleteShe sifts for gold but holds only chaff-sometimes what we thought was important or valuable when we look back is not always so any more. There is a sadness in the poem but a truth to. Enjoyed reading your piece :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the internal rhyme... Happy New Year!
ReplyDelete"Time's lifted breath" - really like that image. The whole piece has strong imagery really :)
ReplyDeletecold and damp chaff instead of gold...very cool description...a new year with new gold will come though...great rhymes in this as well
ReplyDeleteBeautifully succinct, a little gem.
ReplyDelete..who knows what secrets are hidden on that chaff... who knows what more of a gold could be found on it... quite of a contemplative read you have here... happy new year.. smiles..
ReplyDeleteSo if Persephone had not relented and fell in love with Hades we'd have a perpetual growing season? Move over Demeter I am going to mourn with you. I bet that damn Cupid did it...come on honey let's dig until Hades home is open to sunlight.
ReplyDeleteSo simple on the surface, but so deep in the implications of its thought. Excellent work.
ReplyDeleteso so so sad
ReplyDeleteI love this
ReplyDeleteI love the rhythm and internal rhyme in this poem. So melancholy..perfect for this week in the year!
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Karen. The myth of Demeter is very inspiring, but I love how you have worked the words around her regret, leaving us on the final note of 'damp and cold'.
ReplyDeleteVisiting once more today from Poets United. Thank you for your support of Poetry Pantry; and I wish you a VERY happy new year!
ReplyDeleteLovely.....the search for days of old......a human dilemma.
ReplyDeletevery much enjoyed this piece. The rituals and mysteries surrounding Demeter/Persephone/Kore are endlessly fascinating because they are drawn from a deeply human place - where life and death circle one another and yet also give each to each. You have expressed the emotional endings in this cycle beautifully, and as many have said above, with due weight. In such a short piece that is quite something. I'd love to know what you make of my Thesmophoria sequence (which is about the same subject).
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your series (comments there), and I love the myths for their very humanity. We find the best and worst of ourselves in these stories.
DeleteHere's another Persephone poem I wrote a few years ago: http://keepingsecrets-Karen.blogspot.com/2009/12/finding-snow
A lovely write, Karen. Wishing you a happy new year. :)
ReplyDeleteYou convey a depth of loss with brevity. Nicely done.
ReplyDeletesorrowful beautiful write!
ReplyDeleteFinding gold in a different kind of way is an eye opener of goodness coming one's way. Wonderful take Karen and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHank