Lilith (1892) by John Collier in Southport Atkinson Art Gallery
Uncertain Celebration
Today I celebrate my birth
Still not prepared to greet
The transformation fairy
While I’m incomplete
With her wand she frees the mind
And clears the inner space
Stamps out grey agendas
Awareness to embrace!
Will I lose the poet’s edge
If distortion leaves my eyes
I need more nights with Lilith
In her gently wicked guise!
To celebrate a feverish night
Erotic passion’s dreams
Explore some inner darkness
Where pleasure also gleams
Let’s conjure up new dialog
And verse for our blank page
Devices, plots, and action
We’ll dream to put on stage
If I touch the healing threads
Of a liminal lady’s gown
I’ll ponder her enlightenment
But let me come around.
At threshold of what is to be
I’ll take my lady’s hand
But only if I’m certain
My transformation’s planned
I live on the borderlands
Where reason’s relative
With Lilith I play poet’s games
Bad fairies dance and live!
Spirits in your diverse world
I sense your gravity
With you my life becomes unfurled
With some depravity
Transformation fairy
Forgive my current choice
I want to join you later
When I clearly hear your voice.
***
Theo van Joolen©2010
***
[Acknowledgements to Brian Froud]
Selected as Froudian Poem of the Month, July 2010. World of Froud.
Still not prepared to greet
The transformation fairy
While I’m incomplete
With her wand she frees the mind
And clears the inner space
Stamps out grey agendas
Awareness to embrace!
Will I lose the poet’s edge
If distortion leaves my eyes
I need more nights with Lilith
In her gently wicked guise!
To celebrate a feverish night
Erotic passion’s dreams
Explore some inner darkness
Where pleasure also gleams
Let’s conjure up new dialog
And verse for our blank page
Devices, plots, and action
We’ll dream to put on stage
If I touch the healing threads
Of a liminal lady’s gown
I’ll ponder her enlightenment
But let me come around.
At threshold of what is to be
I’ll take my lady’s hand
But only if I’m certain
My transformation’s planned
I live on the borderlands
Where reason’s relative
With Lilith I play poet’s games
Bad fairies dance and live!
Spirits in your diverse world
I sense your gravity
With you my life becomes unfurled
With some depravity
Transformation fairy
Forgive my current choice
I want to join you later
When I clearly hear your voice.
***
Theo van Joolen©2010
***
[Acknowledgements to Brian Froud]
Selected as Froudian Poem of the Month, July 2010. World of Froud.
