Our poet today, Fiona Clark, brings us something strange from Norse mythology, eldritch creatures and sacred trees from the secret woods. Day 609 of the daily poems.
Sacred tree
I am the Ash Maiden, maiden ash,
self-seeded, self contained,
Aphrodite of the woodland.
I am the tree of many names.
Some call me Uússean, others Yggdrasil,
the Tree of life and death.
In me runs silver energy, creative spirit
and the power of spoken words
with magic healing breath.
Orator and poet: listen to my leaves,
their sussuration, press your ear
to my grey bark and hear my secrets.
Some call me Askafroa, Eschenfrau.
Beware my skinny arms which reach
in moonlight for your human shadow.
All around my tribe are dying,
but we are the Phoenix tree.
We rise like flame from scattered ashes.
Fiona Clark