While I Write and Breathe...

I feel my mother's Welsh blood in everything I do...

Every time

I hold this pen

I feel some moving spirit stir,

Like mist in distant valleys, pouring

Down from Snowdon's druid lair.

 

Down along

The deep Welsh valleys,

Through the blood of ancient cells,

Seeking, ever seeking knowledge,

Stored within the Book of Kells.    

 

Late at night

I well remember

You, hunched at your crystal ball,

Gazing ever deep at shadows,

Haunting you, from times before.

 

Born from out

The Mabinogi,

Steeped in myth and songs unsung,

Caught your whispered Celtic tales from

Taliesin's silvered tongue.

 

Once you rose

In Aberavon,

Building fires before the dawn,

You, long weaned on dragon's milk

Could spell each witch, or evil-born.

 

When you grew

They travelled with you,

Dreams and myths and second sight,

Gypsies turned and crossed themselves

When meeting you at past-midnight.

 

You, who taught me

How to scribe

The signs and portents of our fate,

I hold the pen, you hold my hand

And pen the words I dissipate.

 

Though you've gone

To roam the valleys,

Haunt the chalets of your kin,

I see you stare from out the crystal,

Every time my gaze stares in.

 

Mother, you are

Old and weathered,

Long gone from this mortal shore,

Still your blood revives my palette,

Paints your colours at my core.

 

Paints your colours,

Chants your passions

Traces all your patterns here,

You will never be forgotten

While I write and breathe, my dear!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[[deleted]]

Oh that was beautiful! And fun! Totally didn't expect the "you" to be mother. Great twist and well said. Fabulous images. Loved the rhythm/rhyme. You used so many writing techniques and each was delightful. I had to google the book of Kells, Mabinogi and Taliesin.. so I'm probably missing some concepts, but well done nonetheless! Great title.. it's as catching as the ending, lol. She'd be proud. :)

[kes]

I enjoyed this one very much. It spoke to me on several levels and I found a jagged beauty in the air surrounding me as I read it.