30 October 2019

Samhain ~ Halloween ~ Hallowmass ~ The Night of the Dead


File:Candles in Love 07406.jpg
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Now that the young trick-or-treaters are gone,
white candles flicker in the dark silence.
The border between life and death is thin
tonight.  Cats of years past visit til dawn.

The littlest, Red, comes first and then Wicca,
Pierette and Miracle ~ all stay awhile.
While they purr, I sense people who have left
this plane walking in and out of my mind.

I hold each for a long minute, and more
for my dear friend Nancy who would enjoy
watching a film ~ Cat People, maybe, or
Bell, Book and Candle ~ if she were here.

The films play one after another as
we reminisce about decades past
gathering with women in bonfire light, 
drumming, dancing, blessing, and howling

Those revelers scattered over this world
and the next one.  Some returned to childhood
faiths, and some like me became convinced
of Christianity.  Jesus shows up.

I myself am Jewish, he reminds me.
I’m willing to be Christian, but I’m still
wary of paganism ~ though nothing
indigenous is foreign to me. 

My eyes are closed now, and I’m contained in,
enveloped by environment: the warm
and shadowed room and the scent of sage grass
the sure knowledge of trees and homes outside.

I pray to be open to the cross and
the resurrection in Jesus’s presence,
certain we need both faith and good works,
that this isn’t debatable.   Certain.

This thin time is full of earth, air, water
and fire.  Certain I am called to teaching
and word-smithing, but not debate ~ only
witness and testify and remember.

Don’t lie.  To thine own self be true.  I smile. 
Sometimes Jesus sounds so much like Shakespeare
that I recall the King James Bible dates from
exactly the same years.  I love the sound.

And now it’s time to awaken, blow out
the candles, and come home from traditions
present because I made room for them in
my life, made room for Light and for Darkness.

In this thin time, we embrace a wealth of
accumulated experience, we
remind ourselves to increase positives
and decrease negatives.  We hug the earth.


For Sanaa's prompt Poets United: Midweek Motif ~ A Million Years Howl When Voices Whisper Among The Trees 


 My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright.
If you quote, credit this page.
© 2019 Susan L. Chast



16 comments:

  1. Such a wonderful read, as you visited with the kitties, with Nancy, and other souls who have gone ahead. So much more light and love than darkness. Beautiful, my friend.

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  2. What a wonderful contemplation - the meditation on the candle and the thoughts that run along flow so smoothly

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  3. Susan,

    I absolutely enjoyed this wonderful poem, with its many facets and traditions from this time of the year.
    Samhain welcomes the more practical aspects of Halloween and All Saint's Day, with thankfulness for the end of season crops and animals, as much as the coming together in celebration. Like the Celtic people, those spirits of the past are fondly recalled and remembered.
    I think Jesus, would be rather inclusive of all aspects of our Halloween thoughts and traditions! Loved this Susan.

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  4. What a great way to spend Halloween night, recalling the loved ones who have passed. And I like that you make room for so much, for possibilities, while looking for the light.

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  5. This is incredibly gorgeous, Susan!❤️ I especially love and resonate with; " Don’t lie. To thine own self be true. I smile. Sometimes Jesus sounds so much like Shakespeare." Your words have sparked something profound inside of me. Thank you so much for writing to the prompt!❤️

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  6. I do like your acceptance of both Christianity and Judaism. I agree that sometimes Jesus sounds much like Shakespeare. There is so much wealth of experience to embrace....

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  7. What a wonderful narrative this is Susan. How important it is to study the options in belief to find one that has a path that you can tread.

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  8. What a fabulous journey! From Paganism through Christianity and – and its roots in Judaism – all the 'traditions /present because I made room for them' – right back to hugging the earth.

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  9. Amazing last line. Though i luv the whole poem. Your sincere contemplation

    Thanks for dropping by my blog to read mine

    Much💞love

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  10. So fun to read about the" kitties past"!! xoxoxo

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  11. Love this meditation, visitation to spirits..beautiful poem

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  12. I love the thought of our loved ones walking through our minds. An introspective poem- love how your thoughts flow.

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  13. I really enjoyed reading this with book and candle, but alas, no bell. Loved that movie.

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  14. This is a beautiful meditation on the gateway between the living and the dead, as well as faith. Lovely work.

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  15. Susan, I your lead in, "Cats of years past visit til dawn." I didn't know for sure what all cats would visit but I suspected the two legged ones as well as those that purred. I also anticipated you sitting in your large recliner, feet up. and dreaming of the many/several ones that became a part of your life.
    BTW, I've go this thing and your poem reminded me again, of trying and not ever knowing, to remember the first girl I ever kissed or vice versa. Can you yours?
    ..

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