2004-12-06T01:00:00.013+11:00

Twelve Gates

The Dancer
Gate 1.

He dared her with a smile and a swagger
to enter his genesis gate
she took him on - loved his fire
locked allusive horns with him
lent him her lodestone infused with poise
to grant him balance in war
her copper seal from druid lore
cast at the height of April's power
a rune for conjuring vigilance, crucial
to the mood of a hot-headed warrior

he shined innocence
his sunny mind wild with ideas - child-like
the dancer in him called desire
they traded energies - earth and fire
agreed they were miraculous
'welcome to England' he said
'come to Spain with me ?'
but second thought prevailed
'best we travel separate' she said
'taste the world independent'

Tightrope Walker
Gate 3 (a)

When Mercury met her at Gate three
they had each other's measure
she, hungry for a meeting of minds
to sharpen wits, know cameraderie
take unto her the god of words

they touched like soulmates
separated for millenia
no words needed
instant rapport
evident his outlaw mind
his Romany face
waistcoat sharp, pirate shirt
disarming rogue
mouth sharp as a rapier
deadly as an arrow dipped in hemlock
fancied himself a poet
she thought
his posture more of an actor
they argued long and hard on hemlock
poets and Socrates

'til moon moved
pulsing fire in the house of illusion
they built an altar in the corner of the lounge
set for ritual sacred objects
unicorn, pomegranate, crystal

Unicorn :
so gentle a manly consort
to the clear, ripening woman
so happy in his capture
safe forever in her lap
his sweetly nestled feet

Pomegranate :
seeds of blood
fertile fruit of the Underworld
vital to that dark act
the mystery of giving birth.

Crystal :
measures all time
encoded in the Akashic book
recorded there all wisdom
that is, was, and will be
crystal balances the spell

the candles alight
the chalice filled
the spell, uttered and bound
then they drank the rite of wine
and all wisdom came down from the ancients
fused and strengthened them that night
seeds of pomegranate sealed the two
the old blessing of female blood
initiation was complete

but very subtlely
moon's mood changed
threw a shadow upon the pair
perspective shifted in the wind
his mood grew cold as a vixen's kiss
bleaker than depression's trough
they could have been lovers
but knew too well the other

"goodbye brother' she said to him
you're such a charmer, watch that mouth"

"farewell sister - I'll not wait for you
'cause I know you won't be back
anyway, I prefer leather and pain -
gone too far down this dissolute path
to ever come back to where you are'

Pamela Sidney 2001

TWELVE GATES by MELBOURNE POET PAMELA SIDNEY