The Green Man

[Eric Ashford]

He speaks for the uprooted.
A man of sorts, a twiggy Buddha.
He who interprets
the conferences of frogs,
the unpublished works
of kestrels and voles.

He’s an advocate for the underbellies
of microbial heavens, for every kind
of uncouth animalcule.

Ancient is he, yet as fresh as tomorrow,
in green ponds he fishes for sunlight.
He plumps grassy pillows,
quilts nests for the slumbering and slippery,
gardens all the dewy meadows.

He speaks for the bulldozed,
the displaced, the native and
nomadic. He sweeps clean
the muddy tracks of iron caterpillars.

Bears report of matters suburban,
of backyard foraging,
of prime swimming pools;
the choicest trash-can finds.
There must be a treaty.

Kits and coyote love him,
whistle-Pigs trumpet his approach.
Ducks quack his many sermons:
may shotguns always misfire.

He is a preacher,
a teacher to tic and turtle,
a bosky fellow, not a straw man,
or hollow but verdant,
a green man for me and thee
harken do to his leafy lingo
for tomorrow he may be but a scarecrow
in a long ravaged field.




~~~~~~~~~

https://otherworldlyoracle.com/green-ma ... ghtings/[b][/b]

[indar]

The link provided does seem to be a home page, but it is accompanied by the message that the page cannot be found. I believe I got enough information from what was there. 

This poem reads as though it was transcribed from some oral tradition--the telling of deeds by this ancient folk hero but with the knowledge of a "sophisticated" world. Intriguing mix. 

It makes me sad though Eric, I fear sometimes that we are doomed with no hero to step forth, no revival of an ancient mysticism to save us.

[Matty11]

Great. Particularly liked the twiggy Buddha.

May know/interest...

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/53745/lob

[Eric Ashford]

https://spiritofthegreenman.co.uk/green ... mythology/

Try the link above Indar.

The write is essentially a riff on an old Druidic/Anglo-Saxon legend regarding a Nature Spirit. A pagan tradition.
I just brought it up to date somewhat!
Cheers.

[Eric Ashford]

Thanks for the response Matty!

[indar]

Thanks for the new link Eric. I have seen similar images, my daughter has been involved in a group that combs through pagan religions and loosely defines themselves as Wicca. I seem to end up at one of their meetings every time I return to my home state and visit family members. We would probably do well to look at Earth-centered religions again--we've been to space now--not much up there to sustain us. 

[Eric Ashford]

Thanks for the comeback on this Indar, yes and when we delve in the soul of all legends we also space travel and time travel.
There is certainly more to Wicca than witches!

[AlienFlower]

So many wonderful descriptions, Eric, like “fishes for sunlight.” The Green Man is my own idea of the legendary Johnny Appleseed. 

 

The voice is interesting here. You tiptoe around being didactic about your theme—that’s a hard balance to keep. Just two italicized quotes from his preaching, and then the last three lines, softened by the archaic term “harken.” I can see this read at a conference if your job is to introduce the main speaker.  

 

How about a hyphen in S5: “the choicest trash-can finds.” I stumbled on it, and others might, too.

Jackie

[Eric Ashford]

Thanks for this thoughtful review Alien Flower, yes I did ponder about a hyphen between 'trash' and 'can' and now after reading your thoughts have come down on it, so just edited. My aim in the style was to produce a lyrical poem in a kind of folk music style,
not sure I succeeded in that but, at least I gave him a voice without him having to actually speak. I like the Johnny Appleseed
comparison also! Best e