Poems from in between

by Jenifer Cartland

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The dying thoughts of a poet from Gorham’s Cave

I do not know what I should expect
you to come to know as you unwrap my bones
and the tissues of my belongings.
I carved this mark for you, no one else,
hoping it would make me known to you.
But when young Dawn with her rose-red fingers
shines once more, it will be up to you.

I asked my son to hold to the stars
on his journey so that we both, gazing upon them,
would be united, barely believing it myself.
Now the stars have become my home,
for they are the only place I can find him.
Hence, when young Dawn with her rose-red fingers
shines once more, will you hold to Starlight?

Though I risk heresy to admit it, I am persuaded
to wonder if this goddess will overcome all
her imperfections and survive to create you,
and if her beauty will draw you near if she has;
I have worried and fretted endless days over this.
So as young Dawn with her rose-red fingers
shines once more, I simply pray you will exist

and come to find me. I pray that when you
unwrap me, touch my fingers stenciled on these walls,
pool my dyed shells in your palm, as I often have,
breathe in the cave air that I have labored under,
glance up to the stars lighting an empty sky,
you will know me, deeply, truly, and in that knowing,
give life to this life, make perpetual what I cannot.

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’When young Dawn with her rose-red fingers shone once more’ is from Homer’s Odyssey (Fagles’ excellent translation) where it is used to launch many of Odysseus’s adventures.

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29 responses to “The dying thoughts of a poet from Gorham’s Cave”

  5. I love your writing on the rock carvings but wish you had posted the photo from which you got your inspiration. You did a marvelous job…that last verse has a somewhat mournful, longing feel to it…excellent.

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  6. Sorry you didn’t post the photo you chose since it was part of the prompt. However, the poem in and of itself is so very good. I like that it was a previous write and fit so well with this prompt. I like things that can be multipurpose. The longing in the last verse is so palpable. I’m not into photos or illustrations much myself because I feel the words should be the focus, so I totally understand.

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    • Thanks! I had a picture in my head that I literally saw over a decade ago. So images are of course really helpful and orienting.

      I do have to say this was a fantastic prompt. There is so much mystery in these drawings and I think only poetry can open up the mystery for us. Thanks for the great idea!

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  8. Ah.. Shamans from past to present seek to relate
    deeper meanings of life and farther
    we now are from cultural
    noise.. those messages
    still come in loud
    and clear
    for us
    with
    ears
    of HearT..
    it will probably make
    them a little sad
    that folks
    still
    take
    it literal..
    but that’s the
    way of the world
    and human nature..
    some folks deeper
    some folks
    not as
    deep..
    but change
    is always possible..
    and worth trying to relate..:)

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