iolite, wayfarer's stone

iolite, wayfinder’s stone

 

Blue as twilight,

a shard of horizon in stone.

 

Vikings held it to the sun,

a lens against indifference.

 

The sea was a silence without measure,

clouds erased the line of travel.

Yet in the fracture of crystal,

direction flickered-

not myth, but light bent into clarity.

 

No consolations,

no gentle voice.

Only the mineral fact:

a geometry that cuts through haze,

a reminder that forward exists.

 

 

 

 

 

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Reviews

[Lorry]

Yep. I too heard of this through watching the TV series Vikings and isnt it always the way that one person's curiosity led to those Viking hordes invading unknown and unseen lands, leaving their mark on history forever... all because one Viking decided to hold it up to get a better look and thought of a new way of navigating even on cloudy days.
Nowadays of course, with AI, sauna and Alexi and Siri in our pockets at all times, we have forgotten how to think for ourselves, making the movie Idiocracy look like a documentary.(well, if you can think of a better explanation for Trump, then explain please!) 😀

[Jansy]

I like how this poem makes a stone feel like a compass for both eyes and mind. The way light bends through the iolite to carve clarity out of chaos is a quiet kind of magic. It reminded me that sometimes guidance doesn’t arrive with fanfare, but through the subtle refracting of what’s already in front of us.
Beautifully rendered.
James☆

[redd Brick Keshner]

Hey, James☆, that is an excellent reading of the poem. Most excellently appreciated. See you again on another poem: yours, mine and someone elses! 🙏🕊️

[Michael Sun Bear]

Hey Frederick, thanks for reminding me. Years ago I had read of the Viking’s use of this stone while at sea, had totally forgotten about it. You inspired me to read more about it; there are numerous references to its metaphysical properties which kind of intrigue me. During my many years involved with Sufism, I encountered many people, including my own guide, who were proponents of crystal use, while personally I remained a bit of a skeptic. Do you have any personal experiences with this stone or other crystals? MSB

[redd Brick Keshner]

Thanks, Michael. I wish I knew more. As a child I was into fossicking and research. I probably looked into crystals as well. But that is a whole set of experiences in distant memory now. Perhaps one of this days it will come to mind again. 🙏🏻🕊️