Piblokto

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By Turlough

Mon, 11 Dec 2023
  • 2404 reads
28 comments
 

 

Nine months are quite enough

They can keep the other three

Frosty mornings brittle, cruel

Fog pilfers trees and gardens

That self-inflicted genocide

Crimes of nature's icy Roundup

 

They can keep their autumn hues

The only colour my eye sees

Is the black that’s cast upon us

From November, in the afternoons

Astronomical I suppose

Deep in my mind, dark hurts

 

Winds tear at face, hack flesh

Freeze blood, chill brain and bone

I suffocate in boots and coats

Frigid fingers grip and rip my throat

Or I choke on foetid brumal dank

Give me daylight or I’ll scream!

 

The year’s eventide’s upon us

Nothing left to do but sleep

So wake me in the morning

When sanity comes marching home

When winter's only weeks away

At the other end of the world

 

Image:

When I was possessed by an animal spirit in a shop selling handmade Bulgarian folklore gifts.

Photographed by the woman who ran the shop, but she used my camera to do it.

Certificate U
Poem
Poetry in Commotion
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

sympathy from a fellow winter hater. It's always a moment of joy when the days start to get longer. How early does it get dark where you are?

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Well, it seems to be dark around 4:30 pm these days, if the sun bothers to rise at all which it didn't seem to do for the last few days. I think we probably get a tiny bit more light than you in winter because Bulgaria's south of England.

Many thanks for the cherries. I wasn't expecting them. I thought the poem was probably far too miserable to warrant any sort of celebration.

Turlough

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

It if isn't getting dark til 4.30 then you're definitely better off there Turlough. It starts to get dark at around ten to four here, though like you say, some days it never really gets light.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

But in my head...

There is a light and it never goes out.

cool

 

Turlough

Submitted by D G Moody on

A good poem - conveying the feeling of depressive winter weather; the language evoking the Piblokto feeling. I well recall ariving back in the UK in January (after many years), and being stunned by the grey weather. A well-deserved cherry.

Dougie Moody

Submitted by Turlough on

I live in Bulgaria where we have long, hot sunny summers so when the darkness falls in the autumn it's an even bigger shock to the system than it was in the days when I lived in Ireland and Britain. The temporary nature of the gloominess and the promise of much better arriving in just a few months always keeps me going.

Many thanks for taking the time to read my poem and for the kind words in your comment.

Turlough

Submitted by seashore on

This deserves a comment.

So agree with everything you say in this poem. Just remember us poor Brits who have no idea what to expect post-Winter gloom x

Submitted by Turlough on

I've lived in Britain, Coral, so you have my sympathy. 

Just to contradict my poem, it was sunny and relatively warm here today. It still got dark far too early though.

The winter solstice in Bulgaria this year is Friday December 22 at 5:27 am. We're already rehearsing the old song 'Happy Days are Here Again'.

But in the meantime let's embrace the Piblokto.

Tx

 

Turlough

Submitted by celticman on

yes, I like to see the light, feel the light, but winter work is writing and reading not all bad. 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Aye, but it's good to read and write under the tree. You'd need to bring the tree in the house at this time of year though, and who would ever do a thing like that?

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Turlough,

as you know I'm a lover of the cold weather, though am having trouble walking very far these days. I also agree with celticman, that this is a great time to read and write, also slow down and enjoy the flicker of candles that are so magical. But that did not deter me from your poem.

Hope you have a peaceful Winter Solstice and enjoy planning your garden for next spring.

Take care.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Thanks Jenny. I can cope with the cold. It's the darkness that gets me. I find it difficult to concentrate on anything at this time of year.

Best wishes to you and yours.

Turlough

Submitted by Di_Hard on

That's a wonderful mask! Even though your poem rang lots of somber chords with me, your photo made me smile :0) It is dark, and wet, and windy here. Both my wellies and my trainers have sprung leaks THIS WEEK, different feet, so am rustling about with plastic bread bags inside them till Christmas :0) Thankyou for reminding me to be grateful it is not so cold as it must be, with you. I hope you have all sunny days up to the solstice, and beyond :0)

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Many thanks Di.

Best wishes to you and yours.

Turlough

Submitted by Turlough on

Dear cherry picker of the day, thank you very much indeed for today's golden cherries.

Turlough

Submitted by onemorething on

I love winter in all its frost and gloom and looming darkness, but your excellent poem almost convinces me otherwise. It's our Pick of the Day. Do share if you can. 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Thank you onemorething. I'm glad you enjoy this time of the year. It's probably best if I don't convince you otherwise.

Many thanks indeed for the golden cherries. They bring brightness and cheer to a cold, snowy day.

 

Turlough

Submitted by onemorething on

This is our Poem of the Week! Congratulations! 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Ah brilliant! Thank you very much indeed.

I love winter now. 

laugh

Turlough

Submitted by seashore on

One of your best, partly because it speaks to me and it's worse in the UK, 3.30pm and it's lights on time X

Submitted by Turlough on

It's been as dark as the Divvil's coal house here Coral. Outside it snows that soggy wet snow and inside the lights and the kettle have been on all day. 

Thanks for reading my poem though. Thanks for 'getting it'. I'll try to write one to cheer us all up next time.

Tx

Turlough

Submitted by blighters rock on

I find only one redeeming quality to winter, that it retreats and then disappears like a soulless ghost. Just the thought of Christmas makes me feel sick, then there's the deathly dull as dishwater week creaking on towards the equally damnable new year, when poverty and depression set in for the sake of those unwanted presents made by Chinese dissidents in prison. Skint families huddle together for three more hateful months while the good people trot off to the tropics on their public service dividends. Lovely poem though

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I was holding back my hatred of Christmas for next December's poem but you've just said it all for me. 

Good on you! I hope you find some light in this abyss and I wish you a merry Easter.

Turlough

Submitted by blighters rock on

Don't let me stop you planning next year's assault on winter. I'm already looking forward to it. The light's there but only at a flicker with this mob in charge. It will burn bright for Easter

 

Submitted by Turlough on

You have encouraged and inspired me. We have yet to reach the depths of this Christmas and already I'm looking forward to the next.

Turlough

Submitted by blighters rock on

Happy to strike a light for you anytime I can

 

Submitted by marandina on

"..Or I choke on foetid brumal dank

Give me daylight or I’ll scream!"

That's an evocative, powerful piece (the pic is quite terrifying).

Well deserved accolades, Turlough. Paul

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I use the picture on my Tinder profile Paul. The ladies love it!

Many thanks for the reading of this and for your very kind words

Turlough