tart hibiscus on my tongue
returns memories of stolen kisses
over doumbek & warmed rania
while thick windows
full of commuting crowds
rush to beat the thicker snowflakes
falling on rescue red buses
roaring past to carry them home
Tag: poetry
hibiscus
casting runes — 17oct25
thurisaz going back to ground
to wrap myself in earth
before the long cold falls
stone away blind
ravens shout greetings above
in the ancient oak tree
a single snowflake,
leaden skiesA 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.
alkali
thin sticks stacked
for drifter design
in this twilight world
all glyph and glamour
—howl now the wolves
gun oil and smolder
burning under the thick
hammer crack, steel
the flint for the sticks
dream now
in shift with the palecasting runes — 15oct25
tiwaz wearing knotted hounds
around an arm
used to mean something
but it was not long
before the world's hungry wolves
gnawed until even those
ideals were devoured awayA poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.
Today’s rune is tiwaz, which is named after the Norse god Týr, and the second weekday (Tuesday) is named for the god. According to Norse myth, Týr sacrifices his right hand to the wolf Fenrir, who bites it off when he realizes the gods have bound him. The rune is typically considered symbolic of honor, loyalty and justice, as well as of sacrifice. It may be representative of discipline and faith. Some interpretations have associated the rune with the North Star.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
honey
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com she gushed candied lies
something saccharine fierce
living labyrinthine sweet but
only fools fall for her
promised treat
empty hands & honey
stolen child & treacle
too sweet too sweet too sweetcasting runes — 13oct25
fehu for all our gaudy riches,
longing is the incense
which lingers after we wakeA poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.
Today’s rune is fehu, which has a core meaning of “cattle” or a more generalized “livestock”, which was a representation of personal wealth or earned prosperity. Sometimes luck played a role. Wealth and prosperity was valued, but was looked down upon when material accumulation appeared to be excessive, greedy, miserly or turned to hoarding, especially when those around you were lacking.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
horizon roads
lizard tails and tail feathers
our hearts lined in trees
bloodstone inside and
marching square toes
in steel rings and bootblack
down the horizon roads
scented with burnout:
come night, she singsin the unbelonging
we are all immigrants
here, in the unbelonging
all swarthy and sullied
by drifter dust and road
with bold farmers' tans
and gravity frowns
dragging us down
we only wanted world
nothing terribly profane—
we only wanted love
drag boot scrape shoe
we shuffle the broken road
heedless of the dreamless slumber
where nightmare monsters wear
faces we call neighboruntil the end of time
i watched as the shallow boat
carried two dead lovers
into the mists and away
to the place of apples at
the hands of destiny's child
wiping away tears,
i bid them goodbye
rest well
rest well
until the end of time
