i have a raven
riding on my shoulder
fowl-mouthed, of course
one who cusses up a storm
and you cannot see them
but they ride there
all the same
a nibble on my cuticle
a gnaw upon my nail
a peck upon my fleshy cheek
we get along so well
companion piece
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Pexels.com 3 comments on companion pieceTo like, click comments or:
companion piece
turning out
Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash a face i wore before
now put upon a shelf
uncertain bare self
raw and scrubbed clear of
façades once dear to me
i scribble, unknowing
becoming senseless with age
forget i once claimed to write
what i spill to ink
has become mystery
reach for the pullchain, please,
and turn out the lightTo like, click comments or:
turning out
gone rime
Photo by Krzysztof Płocha on Unsplash in the pale naked running
of fall on amber fell
granite and shale in cutting
and there is little concern for
if these lilt and lang of words
are sensible or sane
there is only the running
come chill the winds' bite
with the descent of eventide
old jack gives kiss on flesh
in the pale naked running
of fall on amber fell gone rime
granite and shale in cuttingTo like, click comments or:
gone rime
Cath Dédenach Maige Tuired, “The Last Battle of Mag Tuired”
Below is a partial translation of the Irish War Goddess Badb’s delivered prophecy after the defeat at Mag Tuired of the Fomorians by the Tuatha Dé Danann. She augers the eventual end of the world, “foretelling every evil that would be therein, and every disease and every vengeance.”
[translation: celt.ucc.ie]
(more…)To like, click comments or:
Cath Dédenach Maige Tuired, “The Last Battle of Mag Tuired”
tossing a rune — 19sep25
thurisaz called to the thornlands
the stonelands, the fells—
her phantom visage
piercing the hoarfrost
of dreamA poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.
Today’s rune is thurisaz, which has several core translations: “thorn” or “giant”. The rune is often associated with pain or discomfort (often for an important transitional or transformative reason) or raw power that may be destructive. It is also considered protective, regenerative, and is frequently associated with women’s menstrual health.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
To like, click comments or:
tossing a rune — 19sep25
endless
Photo by Connor DeMott on Unsplash how grey must i grow?
an endless wait for
the beat of ravens' wings
flying low over
fresh fallen snowTo like, click comments or:
endless
tossing a rune — 18sep25
raido fetlock fettered
the path seems but
a distant dream
even as it wends
mere steps awayA poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.
Today’s rune is raido, which has been translated as “ride” and the implied “journey”. This may be spatial and literal in practice (a physical journey), or it may be more figurative (an inner/shamanic journey).
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
To like, click comments or:
tossing a rune — 18sep25
speed
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash burnout the asphalt mind
seeking speed, some racer x
to leave those wending roads
in rearview and see
naught but yellow in dripfeed
fading behind to paradise
wind screaming much like
his voice in the void as
he leaves this world behindTo like, click comments or:
speed
wasting away
Photo by Jan Huber on Unsplash oh, that doppelgänger you
shroud of shadow & secret
in the hollow hill below
every wall a door leading
to more walls and doors, but
i have drunk your wine &
i know that i cannot
shake my fetters free
all i ask is a kiss before dying
before i waste away for
the want of youTo like, click comments or:
wasting away
