Poetry
(A Sibyl, one of the oracles of Apollo at Delphi, Greece, circa 600 B.C.)
(Swans - September 10, 2012)
Sapphire blue is my heavenly root,
blue of font and blue of lake.
It gathers space in its spiral web
and wraps the ground in its waxing robe.
Raven black is my star-honed thorn,
black of earth and black of stone.
It pricks the hand of life with death,
yet sews the cloth of time with breath.
Crimson red is my sun-forged flower,
red of blood and red of fire.
It floods the fields with shades of grace
and steeps the sky in seraphic spice.
Sea foam white is my moon-mulled fruit,
white of snow and white of milk.
It forms the egg of earthly dreams
and bears the seed of celestial thrones.
Emerald green is my cloud-cast crown,
green of tree and green of vine.
It speaks to shadows in the tongues of night
and touches the air with wings of light.
If you find John Marshall's work valuable, please consider helping us
Legalese
Feel free to insert a link to this work on your Web site or to disseminate its URL on your favorite lists, quoting the first paragraph or providing a summary. However, DO NOT steal, scavenge, or repost this work on the Web or any electronic media. Inlining, mirroring, and framing are expressly prohibited. Pulp re-publishing is welcome -- please contact the publisher. This material is copyrighted, © John M. Marshall 2012. All rights reserved.
Have your say
Do you wish to share your opinion? We invite your comments. E-mail the Editor. Please include your full name, address and phone number (the city, state/country where you reside is paramount information). When/if we publish your opinion we will only include your name, city, state, and country.
About the Author
John M. Marshall is the founder and editor of Epiphany Arts, Cape Fear Poetry Society, and various poetry sites. He has received several writing awards. His poetry has been published in the U.S. (including Swans) and seven other countries. He recently had song lyrics performed at the Irish Embassy in Bulgaria. Marshall lives in Wilmington, North Carolina. (back)