Friday 1 February 2013

Imbolc Blessings: Annual Cyberspace Poetry Slam for Brigid

Today is Imbolc Eve, when it is said that the Goddess Brigid walks the earth among us. For the past few years, many bloggers have celebrated Brigid at Imbolc by participating in a Cyberspace Poetry Slam. Each blogger posts a favourite poem written by themselves or by another. Collectively, this results in a vast internet web of poetry being woven to honour Brigid, the Goddess of Poetry.

The poem I've chosen this year is by Alicia Ostriker, an American poet, scholar and author. I hope it resonates with you as it does with me.


Everywoman Her Own Theology
by Alicia Ostriker

I am nailing them up to the cathedral door
Like Martin Luther. Actually, no,
I don't want to resemble that Schmutzkopf
(See Erik Erikson and N.O. Brown
On the Reformer's anal aberrations,
Not to mention his hatred of Jews and peasants),
So I am thumbtacking these ninety-five
Theses to the bulletin board in my kitchen.

My proposals, or should I say requirements,
Include at least one image of a god,
Virile, beard optional, one of a goddess,
Nubile, breast size approximating mine,
One divine baby, one lion, one lamb,
All nude as figs, all dancing wildly,
All shining. Reproducible
In marble, metal, in fact any material.

Ethically, I am looking for
An absolute endorsement of loving-kindness.
No loopholes except maybe mosquitoes.
Virtue and sin will henceforth be discouraged,
Along with suffering and martyrdom.
There will be no concept of infidels,
Consequently the faithful must entertain
Themselves some other way than killing infidels.

And so forth and so on. I understand
This piece of paper is going to be
Spattered with wine one night at a party
And covered over with newer pieces of paper.
That is how it goes with bulletin boards.
Nevertheless it will be there.
Like an invitation, a chalk pentangle,
It will emanate certain vibrations.

If something sacred wants to swoop from the universe
Through a ceiling, and materialize,
Folding its silver wings,
In a kitchen, and bump its chest against mine,
My paper will tell this being where to find me.

25 comments:

35jupe said...

Wow! Wow, wow, wow.

I was unfamiliar with this poem and I adore it.

Also, I did not know about the poetry slam. How cool. (I will spend some time perusing poems and figure out what to post tomorrow.) I love this concept.

Thank you so much for this post, Debra. You made my morning.

mxtodis123 said...

Beautiful choice. I can't believe I totally forgot although I do have a poem on my goddess blog.
Mary

Snap said...

Wonderful!!!! Great way to share Imbolc Blessings ....

DEZMOND said...

bowing to Brigid!

Magaly Guerrero said...

"silver wings" and a warm heart full of light for Imbolc ;-)

Anonymous said...

beautiful Imbolc blessings,

Unknown said...

This is a stunning piece of verse and does the festival honor.

This is one of my peoples festivals. We call her Brighid. We became Catholics and now celebrate St. Brigid as Candlemass. I do like to see how the pagan has been adopted and changed into the secular. Everything is ultimately linked, I think.

Jeanne said...

Great poem for a wonderful time! Blessings to you and yours! :0)

Elsie Amata said...

This is wonderful, Debra and I loved this line:

"No loopholes except maybe mosquitoes"

for it's lightheadedness in the midst of such depth

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

"An absolute endorsement of loving-kindness." Love that line! What a terrific poem. I've never heard it before, so it's new and fresh.

Robin Larkspur said...

I love this, Debra. Blessed Imbolc to you and your Rare One.

Melanie said...

I love this. Thank you for sharing!

The Dancing Crone said...

My enthusiasm for this writer rose and rose as I read on through the poem. How beautifully she writes - visually exciting and mentally accessible and thought provoking. The Goddess is definitely among us today!

Lois said...

Happy Imbolc! The sun is shining and spring will come again. And now I can turn off my Yule lights. :) Lois

Beatnheart said...

what everyone said and more...what a great piece of writing and even better words to live by...one again SWS
knocks it outta the ballpark...

this one is a keeper and maybe I’ll put it one my fridge and throw some Guiness at it...xxc

Ambermoggie, a fragrant soul said...

As always a wonderful poem in honour of Brighid. Mine will be up tomorrow. Happy Imbolc

Jane said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jane said...

Happy Imbolc, Debra :) It just dawned on me today that I still have my (outdoor) Christmas decorations up.

Magic Love Crow said...

Blessed Imbolc to you and your loved ones ;o)

Riot Kitty said...

I don't usually like poetry but that is excellent! A great message.

laughingwolf said...

superb... bb to all during imbolc :)

DWei said...

Never heard of this goddess or this event before.

Guess I'm kind of out of the loop.

Anonymous said...

I really like that poem!

Blessings,
Chung

yellowdoggranny said...

I start to read poetry and after the 3rd line I'm starting to doze..unless it has a line rhyming with Nantucket I'm really not interested.

ambermog said...

Will there be a poetry slam for Brighid this year? I do hope so. I have taken part on my blog for many years. I find it so inspiring blog hopping to see what people have written