Magda Palmer: WindRose 06

WindRose
by Magda Palmer Cordingley, page 6

Shivering, bullied, chased by thunder

To the council halls of wonder,

Luminous script conveyed the past

Contended Wind had paid; (At last!)

Versicoloured choirs' voice

Alternately gave ashes choice

Of life in heaven's peacock cage

Or global Earth at infant stage;

The ashes to their choice assigned,

Had Earth requested and her kind;

Compassionate, strange and sacred dream,

Unique, transferring, showing dream

Set me drifting over moors-

Hurting, pleading, offering moors-

Placed me down outside this cavern,

Perceived a calling from this cavern;

Condensed myself and entered in,

There I found my bird within.

Never had the snow been brighter,

Never had a mist seemed lighter,

Never had a canyon echoed,

Or a blushed cheek ever glowed;

Such a feeling to be with him-

Wind compressed and circling round him,

Getting closer with each movement-

Gossamer thread of dreamy movement,

Watchful in my love assignment,

Afraid of strength in such confinement;

Persevered a useless chase

While Paper Bird lay in his place;

Stopping in my dizzy flight,

Stopped and thought in pensive light;

How to lift my fragile wonder,

How to place myself there under?

Suspended during love's distress,

Saw brutal truth, felt wretchedness.

Through carnal blindness led by rapture,

Failed to see my bird was captured,

Securely snared in woven net

He'd contrived himself and set;

By craving nought but trivial things

Drew misfortune, clipped his wings;

The vaunting wanderer now was caught

Through megalomania...I had thought

Freedom made his dear heart beat,

So now we two lament and weep;

Paper Bird who needs me only-

Needs me just to lift him only,

I who fed him in my blindness-

What he thirsted from my blindness-

Control of Wind by careful singing,

Lost control by careless winging;

Trapped by lofty ninety dragons,

Sensual, transient, mighty dragons".

Children made of children past

Fashion paper birds to last;

Genetic memories understand

Folds of paper hand to hand;

In common boasting many claim

Descent from gods and heroes famed;

But here a boy was of the few

Born with knowledge, wisdom too;

Straight to bellows brought for air-

To energize the windless air,

Went down upon the flagging earth,

Flat against Wind’s sister’s girth;

Pumped the bellows, made a blast

Of air to where the bird lay fast,

Drove Paper Bird to nearest corner,

To both explained the Earth's disorder;

"Hordes of armies stand in trance,

Denied their rations, can't advance;

Lines are weak, their needs severe,

Death's lurking wagon at the rear;

Waiting masses serve their Queen

As Wind to Earth has always been;

All hold together hand to hand,

Compelled retreat they understand;

But do you understand ascending

Here symbolised by both wills bending?

She who perseveres, no blame,

He who reaps but gives, the same;

Together breath made song, made magic;

Apart, no breath, no song, no magic;

As a hair clasp gathers hair

Halved opposites make perfect pair;

Turn away from all confusion,

Banish remnants of confusion;

Know your worth, so know success,

That bringing forth, your souls progress".