February 1, 2002 Candlemas
Brigid
(Grandmother Bright)
Brigid
by Susan Bright
Time rolled over; //////it was coldNight rolled in; //////it was dark.
Winter held; //////and frost breath
froze the baby,//////solid like stone
baby after baby,//////turned to stone,
until Sky broke/////and Fire fell
into the heart //////of a maiden
weeping //////frozen tears,
tears that //////melted,
flowed //////like water,
and Fire //////held the dance
the life/force, //////the dance,
and song////// leaped out,
and pebbles////// turned
to children //////and more children
who gathered////// stones
themselves////// and then
built////// walls
around////// Fire
to keep////// her alive.
And when //////the maiden died
another maiden, //////and another
protected////// Fire light
which fell////// from mother Sky,
protected Fire////// which melted stone
and brought////// the children
back ////// from death,
protected Fire////// who melted ice
and filled////// creek beds
with cold, ////// life,
green ferns, ////// protected Fire
who created////// Spring.
So long,////// these maidens
of the forest ////// protected Fire,
they learned////// to self ignite.
Fire sparks////// fell into words,
Fire sparks////// fell into law,
to social order ////// held together
by the power ////// of the women
who caught////// Fire
as she fell ////// from Sky
and then refused ////// to let her die.
Even now ////// you can see it
in ////// their eyes.
©Susan Bright, 1995
from "House of the Mother" -- Plain View Press, $13.95
<plainviewpress.com> 1-800-878-3605