The Ghost of The Bird

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By onemorething

Sun, 25 Sep 2022
  • 2995 reads
24 comments
 

You cannot know every one of my secrets,

my mouth refuses to speak them all. 

But I have read that if you take a hoopoe's heart

and steep it in myrrh and wrap it, once complete,

in hieratic papyrus and place this packet

upon my belly whilst I sleep -

then, then it is said that I will rattle every bone.

Though maybe not in my own words --

perhaps those of the ghost of the bird;

a song of tales, hoo-hoo through the night.

And in the morning, I will not remember 

my dark heirlooms or the wight of the crested hen,

you will ask me if I am hiding them in poems

and I will tell you no, not ever again. 
 

https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/PcUz6orpkCFYQ2HBA

 

Image is from here: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hoopoe_bird_watercolour.jpg#mw-jump-to-license

 

Certificate 15
Poem
Unclassified

Comments

Submitted by marandina on

"... a song of tales, hoo-hoo through the night.."

That trademark infusion of folklore, myth and layers all present. Wonderful. Paul :) 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Ah, thanks Paul, am glad you enjoyed it! x

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

in Ichor, chirp beyond our our pen.

A fine piece.

Lena xx

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Chirp beyond our pen...yes, indeed. Thanks Lena, glad you like my little hoopoe poem. xx

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Such a beguiling poem Rachel. Your voice is spellbinding and so calming.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Ah, thanks Jenny! That's very lovely! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Beautiful Onemore - both written and spoken. Very glad to have found this. What an extraordinary bird it is!

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks insert! Happy you enjoyed. It was Sunday so plenty of time to read and record it. And yes, hoopoes are gorgeous. Never seen one stray here though, but still hopeful. :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I've never seen one either- I think they're quite rare!

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Maybe one day, you never know. x

 

Submitted by Kris on

and then brought to life with the spoken word from the artist....

IMO- most of us here know you're blessed with a gift....(straight up - had to say it)*

And then to; hear it, feel it, vision it, drift in it, live it, from the cloud....

It's Fine- Art............ 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks so much! That's so kind and you've given me a real boost so thanks for that! Really pleased you enjoyed it! :)

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Today's choice is a bonus two in one! This beautiful new poem by Onemorething, and a wonderful reading by the poet. Please share and retweet if you can.

Submitted by onemorething on

Thank you! That's very kind! A lovely end to my day! :)

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

I was unaware of mythes surrounding the Hoopeo but it's hardly surprising.

I always wanted to see this rare visitor to the UK and I was so pleased when I lived in Las Palmas Gran Canaria they frequently visited the gardens around my apartment. 

Well deserved gold!

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks Ed! And yes, I think they were a bit of a feature in Ancient Egyptian magic, in particular. And as you say, hardly surprising. Bit jealous that you had them as regular visitors! :)

 

Submitted by agnosticnun on

This is lovely. Secrets, birds and oracles, all fragile fleeing things.

Kristi

Submitted by onemorething on

Thank you! Really happy you enjoyed it! :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our wonderful Poem of the Week - Congratulations!

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks so much! That's amazing. I did see last night, but not up to doing much as had a day plagued with migraine, has cleared today thankfully! :)

 

Submitted by celticman on

yes, you are hiding them in poems, but they spill over to the spoken work. well done. 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks CM! 

 

Submitted by drew_gummerson on

Beautiful. And great to hear you read it too. 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Ah, cheers Drew, glad you enjoyed it.