Moth Maiden

a poem written to honor the Sacred Datura and the moth that pollinates the flowers

                                    “Sacred datura leaves, sacred datura leaves,
                                     eating your greens intoxicates me,
                                     making me stagger, dizzily leap.
                                     Datura blossoms, datura blossoms,
                                     drinking your nectar intoxicates me,
                                     making me stagger, dizzily leap.”
 
 

                                      -Translation of O’Odham poem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Feast on deadly leaves 
  Intoxicated and dizzy 
  I become the midnight walker 
  evolving 
  mutating 

  I put on the green cloak 
  paint white squares on my skin 
  walk with many feet 

  Crawl into the dark cavern 
  sleep for ages with the ancestors 
  beyond the realm of the living 
  listen to the ancient songs 

  When I awaken I am a stranger in my own skin 
  a moth emerging from slumber 
  I fly in search of the Sacred White Flower 
  drink the nectar 
  fly on hummingbird wings

 

Author's Note

Image from Pottery Mound mural, modifed with Paint.NET

Reviews

This is so amazing. The way things can change, can get poisoned, drugged, and make each moment as a walking painting... even through the deepest roots, has always moved me... as your poem is brilliant, you translate it here as perfection, like the image too~

[emmajoy]

The ecstasy of invention both in experience and poem .. quite beautiful and indeedly factual within your thread of words. ' When I awaken I am a stranger in my own skin ~ a moth emerging from slumber ' - tis how it is.

[Pendantry]

Hot, my heart beating faster,
I dance, and I scream at the light.
Reality? or fantasy?
What was I saying?
I forget...

... as ever, your words enlighten me.
Encouraged to learn about datura,
I discover a fruit I should not touch.

[kmartell]

very good of course it is

as sincere as we can get the closer it becomes

[Emily B]

your magic amazes me

[Vertigoingnowhere]

wow i really like this is so good :))) take a look at some of my work? thanks

[light and ashes]

Amazing and very unique imagery! I really really really like this poem,90

[Jaweena...Eileen Quinta..]

nizhoni! I love your interpretation my friend - great job!

[SkinlessFrank]

those trumpet flowers .... they emerge like ghosts from these words

[Seshat Nidaba]

mmmm shamanstic flavor! Earth-speak, I like this. It felt prophetic yet modern, very clean syntax.