Poems

Comet Pearls

A dark-edged lilac string
of comet pearls whirled
as the age of Chiron flowered,
pulling the ancient hurts
from this battered wisdom

Arnica salves relieve the aches
left by remnants of battles fought,
and recounted by bards,
wrapped neatly in half-truths
before aged whisky peat fires.

My friends, you have gone before
and now grace legends
with songs sung to your strengths,
heroic deeds and noble deaths
emboldened with each telling.

A shield warrior and bladeswoman,
I smile at the askance looks of outrage,
the last of my kind with no hearth or child
to claim except for vivid memories
of a well-honed warrior on a whisky peat fire night.

Pamela Bauman
aka Rougestrega