Sage
The hot moon
has nudged us awake
called us come
bare foot and
naked hearted
stones circle the flame
we cut and burn a ringlet
for all the memory hair holds
of you and of then
slit a fish throat
metaphorically
open the sea and all the wet sky
and then let go
of all those gulped words
it is safe to cough them up now
your throat jammed with rage
furry with unspoken things
remember how they shushed you
for you were being a girl
too loud they said and such messy hair
then when you grew beautiful and strong
you were still all wrong
so laugh, belly laugh
your teeth all liquorice
your face is a festival
mud and ash, smoke and cider
daub their doll’s house in clots
add salt for the truth of it
and pepper for the courage this always takes
every lifetime over and over again
you are the survivor of ideas that cannot burn
you are your own ghosts wildest dream
here’s some sage
stick that in your bowl and smoke it
burn ear wax for all the listening they will not do
add an eyelash for the lucky charms of you
prick your finger and write in blood:
I promise I will never ever shush
then roar
bold enough to wake your elders
pour oil on the fire and spit and crackle
as all your hurts uncurl
add water
she remembers everyone
every drop of every one of us
be seen for which drop you are
the truth of it shines in your tears
take a good slug of rum and
then swig another and feel the burn
look it in the terrible eye
the old spirit walking in your veins
you won’t bleed for much longer
the trouble of it leaves you
tie it with string
place them feelings
in the doll’s house
lock it, nice and neat
and miniature
and watch it burn
hot and orange and true
you’ll never shush or shrink
finish the bottle of rum
leave none for the dying stars
nothing for the postman
bloody moon
midsummer’s furious beauty
in a world that never changes
so march forwards
I promise
I will never ever shush you
we hold hands
love shines brightest
just then
as the moon sets
since all this blood began
we never, ever
give up.
(c) Salena Godden / 2018
Sage by Salena Godden - Performed LIVE at Byline Festival
Now up on youtube: https://youtu.be/omvFQBTpGn8 Sage published in 'Pessimism is for Lightweights - 13 pieces of courage and resistance' by Rough Trade Books: www.roughtradebooks.com Audio of other poems from this set 'Salena Godden LIVE at Byline Festival EP' released this month with Nymphs and Thugs: www.nymphsandthugs.net
CAMBRIDGE
WEDNESDAY 7th NOVEMBER
MARGATE
LONDON
HAPPY HALLOWEEN, SAMHAIN, DIA DE MUERTOS, ALL SAINTS DAY
MAY OUR RIGHTEOUS ANCESTORS EMPOWER US
NOW AND IN THE HOUR OF OUR NEED
