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Poem: “A Bard’s Prayer”

by on Jul 19, 2016 in Poetry
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A Bard’s Prayer

“As an author and artists who greatly appreciates the Celtic Bardic tradition,
I felt inspired to write this prayer for those who seek to enlighten through their art.“

Let me catch the flame
Golden, glittering, glaring
So my fingers may glow as I hold the pen
Let me taste the wine
Sweet, smooth, sumptuous
So my speech may be seasoned when I tell the tale

Let me smooth the cloth
Crumpled, crude, queer-colored,
So beauty and grace may greet each eye
Let me weave with thread
Silver, star-lit, spider-spun
So my words may flow like a moon-kissed stream

Let me glimpse the ghosts
Fast-footed, fair-faced, fleeting
So my blessing may reach them as eyes meet eyes
Let me climb the chain
Twinkling, taught, tenacious
That connects the present with the haunted past

Let my arrow fly
Straight-shot, shimmering, shocking
To cleave each heart for the sake of truth
Let my harp strings sound
Merry, moaning, murmuring
So all may partake in the moods of life

Let me feel the drum
Pulsing, pounding, puncturing
So my voice may serve as a battle-horn
Let my cry be heard
Ringing, roaring, raging
Above the din of battle and through the soul

Let me harvest jewels
Unicorn-horns, sword-hilts, Christ’s hem
And lay them out in story and song
Let it so be done
Soulfully, sacrificially, sanctifyingly
So that life may infuse death-darkened eyes

 © 2016 Avellina Balestri

a bard's prayer square


Avellina Balestri (also known by her pen name, Rosaria Marie) is a Catholic Christian with a deep appreciation for Celtic culture and mysticism. She is a founding member and Editor-in-Chief of the online magazine The Fellowship of the King (www.thefellowshipoftheking.net), a place where spirituality and creativity meet (which, by the way, is open to submissions). In addition to reading and writing extensively on matters of history, spirituality, and culture, she is also a recording artist, singing traditional folk songs and her own compositions as well as playing the penny whistle and bodhran drum. In all her endeavors, she draws her inspiration from the Ultimate Love and Source of Creativity, and hopes to share that love and creativity with others.