From a recent scratch at the Courtyard, Hereford.

Bit of a culture clash - #poetry & #theatre. One relies on words; the other, the visuals, & the immediacy.

The 'poetry show' is being seen more often. That's probably where this fits best, if I can find the opportunities.

Photo: Jack Hayes

There is a whole body of wisdom within these flowing waters.
So much has flown away already; so much more to come.

But the river runs clean and clear regardless.
And this small cup of it, is what you need right now.

Not brand new, but I hope acceptable still...

#LockedDoors, a #PoemsAbout prompt from @thebrokenspine.co.uk

"Folkism: What Is It and How Do We Avoid It?"
Recommendable blog by ThatHelpolwitch:

#folkism #fascism #heathenry #pagan #paganism
#democracyhashtag/democracy" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#democracy #usaref="/hashtag/usa" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#usa #gopref="/hashtag/gop" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#gop #fascists/hashtag/fascists" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#fascists

👉 Vote 'em Out!

Back in the 80s and 90s, in the UK, Old Norse & Old English Polytheism was often known as 'The Northern Tradition'.

I don't know if that was the case outside the UK.

Anyway, we asked & campaigned to replace that term with 'Heathen', 'Heathenry', Heathenism'.

And it worked.

#HeathenSky

& suddenly, with a shift in the eyes, it's clear that the greenery across the way has a face, is the head of an immensity, & they're staring in through my window, not unkindly- in acknowledgment of kindness- & then, without leaving, they remove to some other part; the foliage there as after-shadow.

Must remember this..

#PoetrySky #HeathenSky

Forgotten Ground Regained is the go-to Web space for all forms of alliterative verse.

The newest issue is just released, here. I've a couple of pieces there myself, & I'll share specific links later.

But in the meantime, do have a browse

alliteration.net/current-issue/

The beguiling of Gylfi... is Snorri's prose rendition of Norse Myth, written to explain to Christian Icelanders what their poetics meant.

I thought it'd be fun to render it into verse. The first part's here...

#HeathenSky

#HeathenSky 1/3

hægl byth hwitust corna, hwyrft hit on heofones lyft
wealcað hit windes scura, weorðeð hit to wætera syþþan

[this from memory, may contain errors]

It's the verse in the Old English Rune Poem, for hægl / hail (pronounce that g as a y, & they sound practically the same).

more

Thank you, @rhunedhel.bsky.social

As it goes, this was my very first #alliterative poem, & it followed a year of not writing at all, as I disengaged the clutch & changed gear from end-rhyme to head-rhyme.

Then, as is said, 'word followed word'

#PoetrySky #HeathenSky

A lot of alliterative verse in here, an array of articles, & not one but two settings out of the skaldic Drottkvæt form

#PoetrySky #AlliterativeVerse

#PaganSky

'Math' is the name of a Welsh king, a wizard-prince of Gwynedd; Math ap Mathonwy, brother of the goddess, Don.

It is said to be a word for 'bear', which is apt for my size & shape.

I chose it as a Pagan name to honour that part of my heritage that is Welsh, British, Celtic.

more...

#PaganSky #HeathenSky

How do you write a goddess or god? In poetry or prose, how do you do it? So that they retain the intimacy of blood in your veins. So they go between like air into breath into air. So you see them there as tall as the sky, and you are too.

more...

It feels a kind of projection, the talking to goddesses, gods, ghosts & others; a kind of talking 'as if' they will hear you. A sending out of self, to be met, somewhere, somehow, somewho. 'Cause at times you feel them answer back.

1/4 #PaganSky #HeathenSky

To say a goddess or god 'was' always jars with me.

Sure, she 'was' believed to be such & such. He 'was' worshipped by so & so.

But, for me now, a goddess, a god, always 'is'.

#PaganSky #HeathenSky

My poem, 'Listen, he whispers' has been put forward by a friend towards the best of the net awards. Which I'm thrilled about.

It's deeply embedded in Norse myth & relates to existential moments we may all be subject to. Would love your thoughts.

#HeathenSky

alliteration.net/poetry/liste...

Hel means 'hidden'. Will this always be so?

#HeathenSky

Opinion, popular or not;

Line breaks do not make a poem. They are possibly the least necessary part of a poem. There is possibly nothing poetic in a line break.

[Every rule in poetry has exceptions]

#PoetrySky

Inclusivity is the norm for modern Heathenry.
It is an aberration to gatekeep the religion for whites.
It will be better for us all when the AFA, Irminfolk Kindred, Jotun’s Bane Kindred, and like organizations are tossed on the burn pile of history. #heathensky #heathen #inclusive

Ragnarok is in someways a poet showing you yesternight's poem, not writing today's.

#PaganSky #HeathenSky #PoetrySky

Wyrd is simply
the way things are.
But how well do you know
the way things are?
It's worthwhile remembering,
that weird as you feel,
you too are one
of the way things are.

Alliteration is not about looks.

#PoetrySky #AlliterativeVerse #Wyrd #Weird

Boc 1/2

Risted onto wood,
the rune is hushed.
The buh of beorc
is bound by slicing;
the oh of os
is un-mouthed, gagged;
cen is cut,
carried on a rune-stave,

cont...

#HeathenSky #RunicSky
#AlliterativeVerse

Why does any post using 'actually' lose credibility in my mind...?

*Altar & Sacred Objects Challenge*

Pictures, as you fancy, of devotional objects special to you. No need to explain.

#HeathenSky #PaganSky #AltarChallenge