Of Ships and Dreams

Just Me

sands ease beneath my wave brushed prancing toes,
scarcely an anchor for hopes and dreams;
but here the clear stream meets the turgid sea –
as do I.

a wounded bird or puff of thistle down
winks and flutters past strained vision;
but distance has no reins on horizon,
nor do I.

A ship! a sailing ship! heaving outward,
billowing clouds for luft and prayer;
but guided by tiller of another’s claim,
as am I.

I gift a sigh upon the scented breeze,
a faerie song – a mystic chant perhaps;
that my presence will affect its course –
as will I.

faucon

Being a Parrot -to honor them

Being a parrot in human form has gotten a bad rap
from:

politicians only repeating the party line,
preachers spouting scripture with no relevance,
teachers only repeating what is in the book,
and “yes, dear” spouses …

but ‘parroting’ or echoing back can be most useful
if done with selfless love and charity:

When a person is baring their soul to you,
perhaps with tears and rambling emotion,
and they seem to run down in thought –
then pause, and echo back a single
special word of theirs just shared,
and they will start again in earnest.

Take seed line or phrase from another’s poem,
and send one back in return,
possibly starting a cycle of special sharing.
(the Fitz form works well for this)

……………………………………………………………….

and for enjoyment, I will teach you
a magic trick most simple and profound,
for those who wish such things – and it is an
excellent ‘lead in’ to any form of divination.

SETTING: performed one-on-one with another person,
though many may observe and share the experience.
It involves a ‘do-as-I-do’ approach, i.e. parroting.

EFFECT: You select the Aces from any deck of cards and lay place them face up in front of the ‘parrot’. You select, for yourself, any four similar cards – say the ‘eights’ if you have Western heritage. Place these in front of yourself. You now go through these steps with your cards, while the spectator does the exact same movements with theirs.:

1) assemble the cards into a pile and turn face down
2) shuffle the cards repeatedly so that no one knows the order
3) think of one of the cards in the pile – perhaps the Diamond Ace
4) look at the cards so that the other person cannot see them (the crowd may look at their selection if the spectator wishes. Carefully extract the selected card and hold against the forehead so that it is hidden, and concentrate on its image. Place the other cards face down on the table.
5) Place the selected card back on the pile and shuffle the stack repeatedly.
6) Have the spectator turn over the cards one at a time face-up while thinking of their card.
7) You now tell them which card was selected! Their ‘thoughts’ have marked it in a special way that ‘reveals’ it to you.

NOTE – you have never touched the cards at any time since the trick began, and you instruction are by demonstration rather than telling – just being the Parrot.

…………………………………………………………….

any who wish to know how this is done may contact me at
gusarimagic@comcast.net

Early to the Temple & Priestess Response

With Cher-Lynn’s help
I arrive early at the Temple,
not wishing to interfere
with the arrival of the many maidens,
clothed as pirates, crones and all…

but a quest is a quest –

the entrance is guarded by
hooded figures with lances
dressed in such colorful garb
they might be lost parrots –

but you are not interested in mundane stuff,
but of the Fertility Dances, no?

So I will tell you what came to pass,
in a double Fitz as is my call to dance …

Fertility Rite

She wore cloak only of ancient voice,
with silver veil of compassioned love
and shimmering crown of wisdom.
Hear the Light call!
Feel the essence sing!
Though soul is guarded by Questing Prayer,
my spirit draws down, ever down
to bind the heart and serpent base.
Rise up, extend, grow ever tall;
be forever now.

Spiceful incense swirling –
flirts with flute and drums un-nerving,
while candles cause the pillars to dance
in foretold march of ageless right.
Were I but young and of lesser will,
I would hear the Siren-Song
and join with thee,
as proof of man and eternity;
save faucon belongs
by pledge and bond
to Gwendydd Emrys.

………………………………………………………….

and then,
in reponse to this posting
on the Enchantresse site,
m’lady Emmie sent this,
she being a Priestess, afterall

Who Sings the Siren Song

a Siren be I as well as She
born and bred of spirit’s melodies
to wrap them ’round my questing Knight
not as to imprison, but to freedom call
a Siren Song I am wont to sing
yet who sang the song to beguile my heart?
Was a Knight of fair ilk crept by my side
who turned my heart and head anew
whose words sent echoes of feelings lost
through the bones of desire and flesh of love
“Twas this questing Knight who warms the flames
long kept in check within the confines
of a Spirit such as mine so turned away
from the Light of lilting love as could be found
in your words so fay

Must be a Parrot

I stand against the balustrade
to face the salt-winds of torment,
and whisper questions oft unsaid
to be carried to distant lands.

“Where do the colors go,
when the sunset fades away?”

and I hear an echo: “when fade away”

“When dolphin chase the flickering moon,
why do I watch in longing?”

echo’s refrain: “chase in longing”

“When twilight hush meets laughing waves,
why do I cherish thee ever more?”

echo: “hush the waves of cherish”

“When I can sense every soul nearby.
but cannot find myself at all –
why do I stare at the endless sea?”

echo ever: “endless ever near”

papa faucon

Glorious Falcon – Worthy Prey??

Understand then that the Falcon Mythos chose me,
rather than I such a totem or nether beast …

so you should know of this connection
before launching me at a foe,
or contemplating lunch –

papa (also once called the Talon of Styria)

Embrace a Falcon

Why would one embrace a falcon,
seeing as you swing from centered Light?
Could it be the kestrel’s closeness
that bonds for life and protection?
Is it the watchful patient eye
of the noble peregrine
that leads to incisive bold action?
Can it be the unique Merlin gift
that can mimic other flying style
soas to draw close without fear?
Or is it something more ancient;
a memory of the eagle
that casts the shadow of passing,
its eyes blind to grief and passion.
Within the visage of this dread form
is said to be the kind face of love,
a falcon — ever kindly watchful
that the spirit remembers soul;
that Benu twins the Phoenix,
that this spirit beholds two lives.

A Step of Wary

As I am to board this infamous ship
at the Enchantresse’s behest,
I reflect on why I refused last year –
and was rewarded with a wonderous
trip across the mountains …

I am wary — not only of the hidden intents
of our Captain (known to be fractious),
nor the enclosed spaces (and stench) –
but a lose of freedom of sorts.

Now I have learned that with Cher-Lynn’s help
I can be a presence at the Abbey as well as
tending the scuppers of this creaking bark –
and yet, I muse …

faucon
……………………………………….

I do not know much of the sea,
except for crashing exuberance
on the Oregon silent coast,
and walks on the gentle waters
where the stream meets foaming surf.

There is a draw to the dangerous,
roiling, churning, hungry waves,
but I do not full understand.
I stand and say. No! Please hear my stand.
Is there naught to my singing voice?

You may shriek with the dread awesome
power of the Tengri nature’s force.
Attack with loneliness and despair.
Call on my trembling empty loins.
Is my plea only to the suffering?

Yet, I will stand against my ground
and defend my chance worthless life,
for it is mine — yes mine alone,
and God and I will measure its worth,
and I will sing in the morning sun.