Sunday 2 February 2014

Sacred Brigid and Profane Groundhog

Today is Imbolc, the sacred day of the Celtic Goddess Brigid. For several years, many bloggers have celebrated by participating in a Cyberspace Poetry Slam. Everyone 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.

This year I am posting one of my favourite poems by the Canadian-American lesbian poet Elsa Gidlow (1898 - 1986).


You Say
by Elsa Gidlow

You say I am mysterious.
Let me explain myself:
In a land of oranges
I am faithful to apples.



And, as promised, here's the profane groundhog:


33 comments:

  1. The only groundhog day thing that I like is the movie, the rest is too ridiculous.

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  2. phil is only correct 38 percent of the time. anyone else with those stats would be fired! love the poem!

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  3. such true delight :) And what's wrong with oranges? :)

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  4. Lovely. Makes me wonder about my own favorite poems. I'm going to dive back into my books to find out. Have a lovely Sunday.

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  5. Effing groundhog. LOL

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  6. I like that poem. Happy Imbolc...though i have no idea how to pronounce that word.

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  7. Not that I'm against oranges, but I'd prefer an apple instead.

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  8. I let loose a lot of profanity at the thought of more winter weather (damn rodent saw his shadow). There's a nasty storm heading this way, as if to underline Phil's prediction. Ugh!

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  9. Love the poem.

    Now that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and predicted 6 more weeks of winter he is probably not everyone's favorite rodent. The little guy better watch his back for the next 6 weeks.

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  10. Great poem Debra! Keep that mind open I say!
    Shubenacadie Sam, our local groundhog predicted, has just informed us that we will be basking in springlike sunshine very soon!! Yes!

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  11. Before Punxsutawney Phil There was the Candlemas Day on Feb 2. There is an old Scottish poem that goes:

    If Candlemas Day be dry and fair,
    Half the winter's to come and mair. (pronounced mare)

    If Candlemas Day be wet and foul,
    Half o' winter's gane at Yule.

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  12. Love the poem.
    Hate the rodent.
    Ba Humbug winter.
    and that's all I have to say about that.

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  13. Hope things are not too cold up your way today. Not terrible here, just a dusting really, but it sure looks pretty.

    Now I'm trying to decide of a sweet chocolate heart bake or a savory herb and cheese. So many choices.

    Cheers and boogie boogie.

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  14. And I firmly believe that is what Phil say every year too!!! It's till cold out, who the hell wants to leave their burrow just yet?

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  15. Hee hee! :) Happy Ground Hog Day! I guess I should say: Happy Imbolc Day!

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  16. Our bright mayor dropped the groundhog this morning. I have a feeling we are in for a 'long' four years.
    Mary

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  17. but he's a natural meteorologist

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  18. That poem is everything. And I love the cartoon! Groundhog Day is the silliest in a calendar FULL of silly non-holidays.

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  19. Blessed Imbolc and Brigit's day. We had more snow but then lots of sun and now, more gray clouds coming in. I hope you have a beautiful day,
    Bird

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  20. Imbolc. Is it pronounced the way it is written? I love the description of a web of poetry and I love the poem you posted. Funny!! As for the groundhog I don't believe in groundhogs anymore.

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  21. That's a prediction I would gladly stand behind.

    Be well, Debra.
    Happy Groundhog Day.
    xoRobyn

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  22. Roses are red
    Violets are blue
    Sarah Palin can see Russia
    from her front porch.
    I like the Wizard of Oz
    how'bout you?
    Bugger

    the Ol'Buzzard

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  23. I love the poem you posted...hahaha...

    Six more weeks of winter? Boo...hiss...grrrr....

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  24. You made me laugh so badly! My" poor titties" bounced a lot!! Brightest Imbolc blessings to you my love!

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  25. Love the poem!!! Those poor groundhogs! We should leave them alone! A blessed Imbolc to you ;o)

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  26. Of course there is six more weeks of winter, it's Canada. Insert sad face here.

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  27. Sweet poem. The groundhog day cartoon is a riot! What a strange tradition the groundhog thing it!!!

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  28. I love poems that are short and to the point. And punchy. Also, I know we like asking a random rodent to predict our weather, but I don't know, maybe we can ask some kind of meteorologist to give us a slightly more accurate prediction.

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  29. Beautiful poem! Love it. And i love groundhog. He thinks we humans are ridiculous. (And sometimes he's right.). :)

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  30. Cool, so this is the Pagan roots of Candlemass. next year, I celebrate it, somehow. This year, being jetlagged, I forgot to make pancakes.

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