Dark Woods

Dark Stone had a Barbic challenge called in the North of the North. One was to write /perform a poem, song, play scene, etc ,talking about the adventures of living in the north. Earlier in the day they said that people in SCA were very encouraging and non-judgmental about the creation of poems and songs, etc. They said that each was a winner just by getting up and performing.

A week before the event I had scribbled down a few lines of a poem and than thought that I really did not know how they wrote poems long time ago and so stopped and decided not to enter. At the last minute when we were leaving home, I picked it up and decided to take it with me ...just in case I changed my mind. After hearing in the afternoon, their attitude towards the arts, I began to wonder. After talking to the instructor, since I was still filled with self-doubt, and she encouraged me to read it. I knew that I had just started the poem and had not finished. So I read it again and thought that it really could end there and still make sense. I don't like standing up in front of people and really did not make up my mind until just before the challenge began. I didn't even have a title to the poem until after I got home. But here is....Dark Woods...

It's the time of
the Starving Moon.

When earth garbs herself in
a deep mantle of white.

She hides herself from the
cold, blowing, North winds.

And doesn't feel the penetrating
cold in her bones.

For days the warmth of the sun
has left this frozen, cold, North land.

It is dark, still, quiet as all life
hides in Mother earth for warmth.

As the temperature drops, one's
breath freezes in to air crystals.

Even the lake ice mourns, groans,
snaps, crackles, and pops in protest.

In the gray, twilight of day,
I snuggle deeper in my fur skins.

Wishing I could sleep the whole winter
away, just like the bears!