I look for skull-picker
Along the traveling way
After sun’s birth
Each and every day.
The mysterious blood-starling
Who mourns her own dead
And exchanges information
Nightly, before bed.
An intelligent one
Who captivates me
And caches her food
High up in the tree.
This one I adore
And hear her every day
I often find her
By the roadside buffet.
©Shadow
Kennings: skull-picker, blood starling= crow
Note: I often use kennings in my poetry. To help make this poem more understandable, I used the following kennings:
the fire of the sky=sun; swan of blood=raven; Thor’s laughter=thunder; weeping of clouds=rain
What do you know about her?
This one who loves to see
The fire of the sky
In the evening, alone with me.
What do you know about her?
The one who is intrigued by
The odd swan of blood
But know not what makes her cry.
Tell me what you know
Of what she likes to hear
Thor’s laughter in the distance
Music to the ear.
Tell me what you know
Of what she likes to smell
The weeping of clouds
Makes her emerge from her shell.
Tell me what you know
About all of her tears
Her lifelong problems
Of tantrums and fears.
Do you know this little girl?
Living down below
Deep in the shadows
Still in chains from long ago.
Who is this little girl?
Who learned to be an imposter
Never growing up
Still waiting for her well-being to foster.
©Shadow
The land is cloaked in darkness
Before yellow-queen is to rise
And as light gives way
Red and gold paint the sky.
Greetings to you, dear Sunna
As the gates of darkness fade
Cloud-murk covers hawthorn’s moor
And Mani no more in shade.
I turn my face to you
Lady of light
Arise! Arise!
With all of your might!
And now in full view
Elves-glory lights the land
Thank you, dear Sunna
For giving life to the seat of man.
©Shadow
Where were you, brother,
When he chained me to fear?
You were there the whole time,
Your loyalties made clear.
What was the purpose, brother,
Of stripping me bare?
Exposing my naked body,
To those who gloat and stare.
Did you enjoy it, brother,
Forcing us all to have sex?
As you stood by and watched,
Yelling “You are up next!”
Was it funny, brother,
Grabbing me by my feet?
Flinging me to the ground,
And dragging me across the street.
Does it make you feel better, brother,
To tell people how you care for me?
When you both kept me in fetters,
Without a way to ever flee.
© Shadow
Falling in love
Wasn’t what I planned
The attachment is strong
Beneath my feet, only sand.
Hair black as night
Body made of fire
Don’t get too close
Her love wraps you in wire.
Kept running to you
But was chasing the wind
I was a fool to believe
You were my best friend.
You meant everything to me
Charmed me in every way
But you were only in dream
No more to stay.
© Shadow
My back against a tree
as my mind aimlessly wanders
Til at last
I begin to ponder.
Oh how I love
how the wind caresses my skin
and how it swirls
The leaves into a spin.
What does the tree think
of this silent whisper?
Of the whipping air
when it grows crisper?
I wonder about
the life of a tree
who never speaks
nor have eyes to see.
Yet they all
have a story to tell
wrapped up inside
its strong bark shell.
View their branches
and ponder their shape
look at the vine
of which the trunk cannot escape.
See their leaves
their various shape and color
Consider its life
does it know dolor?
I wonder what it’s like
to be a tree
I wonder what it’s like
To just be.
© Shadow
My adaptation of Psalms 4
No one answered me when I called,
no one relieved me from my distress.
Who will comfort me or hear my prayer?
How long will he keep putting me to shame?
How long will he keep me in these chains?
Know that he has set you apart as a slave for himself
No one will save you from his clutches.
I trembled in his presence,
And when I was on his bed, I was utterly silent.
I was a sacrifice to feed his desires,
And trust became my enemy.
Who will bring me relief from my sorrow?
Where is the light that brings healing?
My heart is filled with dispair
And my body is consumed with fear
When the memories of old abound.
There is no peace when I lay down to sleep,
for I am completely alone
And no where can I dwell in safety.
© Shadow
