The Blessing of the Poet, the Delphinium, and the Jay
after Alicia Ostriker
To be blessed
said the poet
is to feel inspiration
flow into you
like the lyre of Orpheus
or Shelley or the angels
To be blessed
said the Delphinium
is to “knock their eyes out”
with a blue so deep and
vivid even the sea goddess
would be envious of you
though your indigo
is fleeting and hers
returns every sunlit day
To be blessed
said the jay
is to call out
jay jay jay
in a raucous entré
though you really want
to sing a melody like a lyre
in Orpheus’ hands
or the angels.
Jacquelyn Markham
(4/5/2024)
Thank you Napowrimo for today’s prompt:
“Friday is here, and so is the fifth day of Na/GloPoWriMo.
Now, let’s get to our optional prompt! Today we’d like you to start by taking a look at Alicia Ostriker’s poem, “The Blessing of the Old Woman, the Tulip, and the Dog.” Now try your hand at writing your own poem about how a pair or trio very different things would perceive of a blessing or, alternatively, how these very different things would think of something else (luck, grief, happiness, etc).”
Angel with lyre image credit: Image credit: http://www.dana-mad.ru/gal/image.php?img=5387
Poet Voice 