Holly King

Cherry

By skinner_jennifer

Mon, 28 Nov 2022
  • 1058 reads
11 comments
 

Wearing flush of crimson berries,

with pride revels in respect of

slowing down...this restoration

our sacred earth.

 

Does robin sing your praises

perched; enveloped

between prickly leaves,

telling us to keep at bay?

 

Oh Holly King you stand guard,

charm is not your way

in these darker days;

when I would embrace medieval

mysteries shrouded in heroic battles.

 

Hold courage for white Goddess

sees your plight,

while I'm elsewhere in my mind;

excited at wonderment of

this magical time,

 

silent November wouldn't

deprive me of festive cheer,

those Christmas preparations

gathering colours of

red, green, gold and silver;

 

before renewal when Oak King

will flourish...sun will rise,

soil will again warm up

and flourish.

 

 

The Holly King represents

a time of Peace.

Tho Oak King represents

a time of renewal.

 

 

 

 

 

Pixabay free image.

 

Certificate U
Poem
Poems
Spiritual
Nature
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

not my favourite season, but you've caught it well, Jenny. 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thank you for your kind comment Jack. The cherries were also very much appreciated.

Again many thanks.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

An eloquent panegyric of the berry that characterises the forthcoming festive season, Jenny. 
A good response to the I.P.

Luigi xx

 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Luigi,

the pagan story goes that the Holly King and the Oak King are in en eternal battle for leadership, so they have their own time in which they rule certain seasons, hence the poems tale of darkness and light.

I used to hate November when I was working, it always seemed like a dismal time, but not anymore, for me now I'm retired it's inspiring and cosy on these dark days.

Thank you so much for reading and your kind comment.

Jenny. xx smiley

 

Submitted by TJW on

Medieval mysteries shrouded in heroic battles: does the shroud make the mystery or is a mystery defined by being shrouded?  And why heroic?  Made me think of "Of Ritual and Romance"-ever read it?

V/R 

TJ

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi TJ, I suppose no battles are really heroic, but in this poem Holly King and the Oak King at least come to an agreement, where one rules the Spring and Summer, and the other rules the Autumn and Winter, which I think is how all life should be, then we can all live together as one and share.

But I know that people being only human will question my poem and that's fine, because not everyone gets where I'm coming from. It's certainly not about war or violence, as I'm completely against forced power. It's also said that they wage for the esteem of the White Goddess, I always see her as being the Winter and Summer moon myself.

Peace and Love is the only way.

Thank you for your thoughts, it's always good to get someone elses perspective.

Jenny. smiley

PS No I've never read ritual and Romance.

 

Submitted by TJW on

Hi, Jenny, don't know if peace and love is the only way, but it's sure as shit the better way.  Ritual and Romance is a deep read. Reading it is itself a ritual and not very romantic.  

V/R 

TJ

 

 

Submitted by marandina on

"The Holly King represents

a time of Peace.

Tho Oak King represents

a time of renewal."

 

There's a  Pagan feel to this, Jenny. Beautiful sound-echoes. Paul

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Paul,

I'm so glad you understand where I'm coming from with this poem. Yes you're right it does have a Pagan feel. Also over the moon you caught the sound of echoes from another time, when people were in touch with the seasons and understood how nature was so important.

I really appreciate you taking the time out to read and leave such a great comment. Also hope you are well.

Take care.

Jenny. smiley

 

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Jenny

Lovely little poem about holly - and the red berries are so cheering in these bleak days.

Jean Day

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jean,

Holly and the red berries always give Christmas a special meaning. My neighbour has a holly tree with loads of berries on at the bottom of his garden, it's such a pleasure to see each day.

I'm glad I could bring you a little brightness. Thank you so much for reading and your kind thoughts.

You take care and keep warm.

Jenny. smiley