Walpurgis night

[seal]

This time of year I miss Sweden and Uppsala in particular. On the last night of April they light the bonfire over there and sing songs to welcome spring. Regardless of this particular night, I miss the old mounds and my walking paths around there.
2 years ago I wrote a poem inspired by the place, and just felt like editing it, so I did. Feel free to ignore.


The Old Mounds

These relaxed hills could fool you now
But time was when bearded men hung horses
From the oaks and the vale was brimming
with boats crossing for the graves of nobility,
the Viking queen’s chest filled with beaten silver
paid for the stone saints looking down
on wanderers from the eastern mound.

There is a birch glade on the lower grounds
where midsummer and midwinter curious
things happen. Once at 4 a.m. this badger
caught me by surprise – a wild animal
suddenly forming a human expression
he turned on me but I bridled him
with his name and saddled him with mine
swinging a thistle whip

we took a ride down the runestone road
where the Walpurgis bonfire is lit.
By the blackwood stave temple
we stopped to look
at the church-verger's collapsing shack
an abandoned servant’s
solstice offering

Comments

[catsidhe.livejournal.com]

That's beautiful.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[alecto23.livejournal.com]

Wow.

Lady, you write great poetry. The photo's pretty awesome too.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The photo is not one of mine (although I have several from that area), it's just one of those perfect Uppsala promotion pictures from the internet, heh.

[jamezm.livejournal.com]

This makes me want to visit Sweden so much.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

It really is a cool place, although part of my poem is fiction and now I'm afraid I'm using this huge exotic carrot to wave around, haha.

But for me, that place really is magical.

[tuckova.livejournal.com]

Bonfires and witches galore here last night, too. And kissing, for the young. I think it would break my heart a little to be away from this country in the spring.

I mean, February I could live without. But spring, when we've collectively suffered through the winter, and survived, and just that makes any kind of magic possible (I mean, of COURSE you rode a badger! It was spring!)... and it's warmer here than there, so I can only imagine it's louder there.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

April 30th night is very loud in Uppsala, since the students are partying all day long, with races along the brook, booze in the parks, herring lunches and barbecues in the evening. The mounds are special all year around, really. I wish I could be in the Czech Republic on last of April one year, I really would like to see the bonfires from there.

[mojodragonfly.livejournal.com]

I swear your home is my missing homeland. It all sounds, seems and looks so heavenly.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

People are a little repressed, but you would like it well, and be well liked. You would however miss the warmth of Texas. Part of the spring euphoria is about light and warmth where there wasn't any for so long...

[nerak-g.livejournal.com]

My roots are trembling.:)

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

When both roots and crown shivers, we know that spring is here!

[birds-hum.livejournal.com]

this:

but I bridled him
with his name and saddled him with mine
swinging a thistle whip

I love.

[birds-hum.livejournal.com]

OHHHHHHH UPPSALA!!!!!!!!! Ok. I get it now. Jeez, Katherine.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

No worries, it's just about a special place of old historical fact as well as myth in my old home town of Uppsala. And thank you!!

Beautiful visuals!

[lelain.livejournal.com]

That was mega cool! Happy Beltane!

Thank you!

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

If you ever come to Sweden and I'm there at the same time, I'll show you the place!