Huldufolk (Poetry Monthly)

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By Philip Sidney

Sat, 23 Jan 2016
  • 8759 reads
25 comments
 

We are not so different,

our spirits grow thin

in the absence of joy,

 

you wonder

how we survive

chill lives spent

 

skipping into rocks,

cracked by ice

and the trembling ground,

 

if you do not see us

it is no loss,

you too are a curiosity

 

we do not quite believe,

too busy gathering

sweet juice from bilberries

 

to drink on long nights

warmed by molten rock,

reading shadows

 

that walk the walls

in our orange caves

of fire,

 

or collecting cotton

to wrap up in

when we lie on snow

 

to look up and imagine

we see humans 

in the flickering

 

green light.

Certificate U
Poem

Comments

Submitted by Ed Crane on

It has a philosophic feel and you have used enjambment to good effect. Nice piece.

(Are you from Iceland?)

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Ed!  My youngest son lives in Iceland so I've visited quite a few times, there's something about it that lingers with me.

Submitted by torscot on

I liked this little frozen and cosy elf tale.

Regards.

 

 

torscot

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks torscot. smiley

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks for the cherries! :)

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

One can imagine the 'elves' of Iceland would be grey, to hide in rocks, not green as in more temperate climes, and getting their warmth from the same source as the geysers. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

I think you are right, Rhiannon,  :)

Submitted by Bee on

So much warmth taken in the chill. Your poem glows.

Bee

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you Bee.smiley

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Not only is this wonderful piece our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day, it's also our Poem of the Week - congratulations!

Get a fabulous reading recommendation everyday

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

I didn't see that coming!  Thank you so much for the picks!  smiley

Submitted by Pat G on

I echo Bear's comments about those opening lines. And I'm intrigued by the "little people" at the edge of "Europe" - particularly Ireland, Norway and Iceland.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Pat :)

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Helen

Iceland came to my mind too, as I was reading this. Lovely.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Jean :)

Submitted by celticman on

warms the little cockles of my heart. 

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks celticmansmiley

Submitted by Bee on

Reading again - this is seriously beautiful. Well deserved recognition. 

Bee

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

What a lovely thing to say!  Thanks Beesmiley

Submitted by Jewel Serpent on

I especially loved the last few words! I really liked "imagine we see humans in the flickering green light". It's almost as if the humans are aliens! Great use of language in this one.

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Jewel, glad you liked the end particularly, I was trying to suggest that we could be the mythical creatures from a different perspective.  :)

Submitted by loquaciousicity on

I read this by firelight... glad I did... otherworldly... a wonderful read!

Terry

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you Terry, :)

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

 

The mystery of something we cannot see but believe in, makes this poem so intoxicating.

I can imagine you had a lot of fun writing it.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Jenny.  I really did enjoy writing this, nothing like a daydream, :)