Salutations, my digital friends!
I’ve always wished I could go back in time to interview an ancient Celtic druid or bard.
Because the Celts recorded in writing so little of their beliefs, instead favoring an oral tradition of passing knowledge down through the learned class, we need to piece their reality back together through secondhand written accounts and artifacts.
So much of what we believe we know comes through a Christian lens, as recorded by scribes in the Middle Ages.
One thing we do know, the Celts were highly focused on triplism, triads, and threes. For example, they believed in a triple goddess: Maiden, Mother, Crone.
I like to think of these three feminine aspects in terms of a natural cycle… birth, life, death (rebirth).
This poem starts with the point-of-view of the Crone, helpless to stop the conquering tide of Christianity that has swept over an ancient Celtic civilization. In essence, stolen her worshippers.
What would it be like to be a goddess who is no longer worshipped? How would she feel?
And there is your window into how my weird brain works and the peculiar things I contemplate… LOL.
As always, would love to hear your thoughts/reactions in the Comments Section below.
-PS Conway ☘️ ☘️ ☘️
☘️ ☘️ ☘️ ☘️ ☘️
coming of Christmas
the house of ox bones stands alone
high ‘long virgin scarps
despoiled by midwinter winds
the ancient Crone bides
face etched like stone
belies her inmost concerns
years of tears reveal
‘cross her alabaster countenance
a face pocked and speared
since time dawned boldly thereafter
snow falls thick
but cannot console her irrelevance
nor quell her impertinence
she grimaces
winces each time the church bells toll
portending the coming of Christmas.
I love your description of the Crone and her dwellings as she has become “irrelevant.” I love the imagery! I tried to pick favorite lines, but the whole poem contributes to the images in my mind. Great poem, my friend!
Thanks so much, PS! So glad you enjoyed the poem. I loved this comment. Cheers 🍷🌹🙏🏻✨☘️
How I detest the version that is the modern Christmas, with it’s obscene commercialism. The ancient celebrations around the mysteries of death and renewal, darkness and light with feasting and merrymaking are far more acceptable to me. With the Winter Solstice imminent, the image of Oz bones and an Old Crone are very appropriate.
I so look forward to reading your work.
Seasons greetings to you, may you and yours feast well.
Sandie
Season’s greeting right back to you, Sandie! I so appreciate you taking the time to read my work (and enjoying it!!)… I look very forward to hearing your thoughts each week, too. 🙏🏻🌹🍷✨☘️
I second this. As a person with Celtic blood I wish to see a return to our traditions. Blessed Yule.
Beautiful write.. I liked the peek into your mind… ✨
Yeah, careful what you wish for sometimes, eh, Anish? Lol… thanks so much, my friend. ❄️🙏🏻🍷✨
The “house of ox bones” immediately made me think of a First Nations longhouse here on the west coast, which evokes the same disdain for Christian white-washing of ancient culture. A nice alternative view of what Christmas doesn’t mean to many people. Well done Pat!
Thanks, Naomi. Sometimes I find it fascinating to flip the lens and challenge traditional points of view. Cheers 🍷❄️🙏🏻🌹✨