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Post by bran_sinnach on Nov 8, 2006 1:18:53 GMT -5
This is a poem by Neil Gaiman from the book The Green Man by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, which is an excellent book that I highly recommend to anyone out there. And for those who arent familliar with the term, a wodwo was a medieval wild man of the woods, often identified with the Green Man. Going Wodwo Shedding my shirt, my book, my coat, my life, Leaving them, empty husks and fallen leaves, Going in search of food and for a spring Of sweet water. I'll find a tree as wide as ten fat men, Clear water rilling over its grey roots. Berries I'll find, and crab apples and nuts, I'll tell the wind my name, and no one else. True madness takes or leaves us in the wood halfway through all our lives. My skin will be my face now. I must be nuts. Sense left with shoes and house, my guts are cramped. I'll stumble through the green back to my roots, and leaves, and thorns, and buds and shiver. I'll leave the way of words to walk the wood. I'll be the forest's man, and greet the sun, And feel the silence blossom on my tongue like language.
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Post by wren on Nov 8, 2006 9:45:17 GMT -5
I love this!
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Post by Lady Anastasia on Nov 8, 2006 16:31:23 GMT -5
oooooo..... is very pretty
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Post by wren on Nov 8, 2006 16:39:48 GMT -5
I have a strong attachment to the Greenman. First carving I did was the Greenman's face. And, I have a statue on my hearth, to remind me to embrace my wild and darker sides. I'll leave the way of words to walk the wood. I'll be the forest's (wo)man, and greet the sun, And feel the silence blossom on my tongue like language. Think that's a keeper!
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Post by bran_sinnach on Nov 9, 2006 0:25:42 GMT -5
*smiles and nods*I too love the Greenman, and if you like the Greenman I cant recommend the book enough as I said before. Its nothing but a large collection of short stories revolving around him (and many times her) in his many aspects, along with a few poems such as this one. Im just glad to hear that by sharing it, others got as much enjoyment from it as I did.
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Post by wren on Nov 9, 2006 15:55:15 GMT -5
Here's my carving, when it was only about half-finished... When I began to really work on becoming whole again, I got out my father's carving tools that I kept when he passed away. I saw a connection between his tools and working with wood as he had, as well as the spirit of the wood. It's still not finished yet (still have to stain and oil it) but...
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Post by bran_sinnach on Nov 10, 2006 0:57:48 GMT -5
Oh wow, that is really some beautiful work Wren, I admire your skill at releasing the images hidden within wood. That is really a beautiful green man, and I would love to see a picture of the finished image when you finally get one too, if you wouldnt mind. It reminds me of today when I was in a yard entirely covered with fallen oak leaves the same hue as the carving, and how it always seemed my eyes could just almost pick out staring faces amongst their curves and overlaps. Once again, wren, beautiful art and perfect for this poem.
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Post by wren on Nov 10, 2006 10:48:01 GMT -5
Thanks, bran! I'll post it as soon as I complete it.
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