06-03-2012, 08:35 PM
This is more my personal response to the poem, and not necessarily a valid critique, as I make certain assumptions which may be inaccurate, as well as biased.
"I broke off two of her fingers," although a good line in most instances, I questions it's value here, as it seems to set up an antagonism between the speaker and the naturalistic world of Shamanism where everything is sacred. Whether Native American or Druidism, it is not a way in which I can think that either group would conceptualize things. Yes, they personify nature, but the warrior/hunter prays and asks permission before killing something, usually with offerings. Even when gathering sage, prayers are offered,a sacrifice of tobacco is given, and the plant is treated in a respectful way. Respect is the word that characterizes this relationship between humans and the natural world. In contrast the opening line seems cavalier. Maybe it was meant to be playful, but within my experience, it just seems out of place. Additionally, this set up a tone that causes me to question parts of the poem, I probably would accept. Such as
"I wish to growl and unfurl my goddess..."
Even when doing something that is for the most part personal, the attitude would not be "I" want to do this,but rather I do this to benefit my people, such as in sun dance. The line above seems more about "self empowerment" which is more a western attitude, than a motivation I have ever seen in native people. This brings up the line
"One day, my loves..."
If this were coming from a Sufi, the idea of the divine as ecstatic would make perfect sense, but in my experience of the less sophisticated (as some would characterize it), I have never seen the spiritual sexualized, or romanticized in this way, although it is common in other traditions. Rumi has written some of the best poetry of this type where he conceptualizes the divine as the beloved, or the lover. This line would work well within most esoteric traditions.
As I said, if not for the first line sensitizing me, I probably would have overlooked these last two. It is however difficult to think of this as anything other than Druidism, as nothing incorporates nature worship (the tree ring as describe in the first few stanzas) and goddess worship.
I am willing to concede that this could be an accurate description of one of the modern melds that include aspects of Druidism,such as Neo-druidism, and to some extent could be reminiscent of what was practiced at places like Findhorn.
The poem does have nice descriptions and paints the picture well, I could almost feel the cold wetness.
Dale
"I broke off two of her fingers," although a good line in most instances, I questions it's value here, as it seems to set up an antagonism between the speaker and the naturalistic world of Shamanism where everything is sacred. Whether Native American or Druidism, it is not a way in which I can think that either group would conceptualize things. Yes, they personify nature, but the warrior/hunter prays and asks permission before killing something, usually with offerings. Even when gathering sage, prayers are offered,a sacrifice of tobacco is given, and the plant is treated in a respectful way. Respect is the word that characterizes this relationship between humans and the natural world. In contrast the opening line seems cavalier. Maybe it was meant to be playful, but within my experience, it just seems out of place. Additionally, this set up a tone that causes me to question parts of the poem, I probably would accept. Such as
"I wish to growl and unfurl my goddess..."
Even when doing something that is for the most part personal, the attitude would not be "I" want to do this,but rather I do this to benefit my people, such as in sun dance. The line above seems more about "self empowerment" which is more a western attitude, than a motivation I have ever seen in native people. This brings up the line
"One day, my loves..."
If this were coming from a Sufi, the idea of the divine as ecstatic would make perfect sense, but in my experience of the less sophisticated (as some would characterize it), I have never seen the spiritual sexualized, or romanticized in this way, although it is common in other traditions. Rumi has written some of the best poetry of this type where he conceptualizes the divine as the beloved, or the lover. This line would work well within most esoteric traditions.
As I said, if not for the first line sensitizing me, I probably would have overlooked these last two. It is however difficult to think of this as anything other than Druidism, as nothing incorporates nature worship (the tree ring as describe in the first few stanzas) and goddess worship.
I am willing to concede that this could be an accurate description of one of the modern melds that include aspects of Druidism,such as Neo-druidism, and to some extent could be reminiscent of what was practiced at places like Findhorn.
The poem does have nice descriptions and paints the picture well, I could almost feel the cold wetness.
Dale
How long after picking up the brush, the first masterpiece?
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.