Light

Barton bids that street facing windowed homes
Must light lanterns to hang at dusk.
Firefly pilgrimages bring stars to ground level,
Drawing life-itself in warm-light over dark meadows.
Do the lunar flowers, sleep-shy fledglings and deer
Find themselves in awe at the grassland-galaxies?

Over the world; people release their old-selves into paper boats and floating lanterns, whisps of light curling into lake and bright red-flickering wishes growing further and further away.
A man visiting a dim-lit, solemn chapel lights votive candles crying, prays his love and devotion will meet his lost love in the home of light itself.

Reviews

[emmajoygreen]

Tis said that within time, Mankind paid long ago, still pays and always will pay because Mankind, in all his greed, desires everything within sight. In fact rich ownership captured anything thought valuable. Consequently the rich lived top of hills nearer the heavens and the poor somehow existed in their dark and devilish shadows.

Light is not considered the whole of mankind's right but a commodity for those who can afford it. Think, see and/or question throughout your own lifetime and wonder, think - then think hard or research!

Your own interesting and fine words are birthed from what is to be found in records. Long live the future and research even more. Many thanks for your offering, sir.

[William Kremer]

Thankyou Emma for reading and reviewing. I will definitely continue my attending to light and what it has meant to us and continues to mean for us throughout ritual/ceremony, through civil infrastructure and communities etc etc in all possible contexts I can disentomb.

[Lorry]

I knoweth not who Barton is, but I do recognise the tradition of paper boats and renewal... I must try that some time.
We say prayers and hope that there is an answer to us meeting loved ones when our lights go out... or is death just the beginning of the next adventure?
As no one has come back to confirm this to me, I'll just keep believing that until I find out any different.
Great piece, with a great message.
A+++++. Now go to the top of the class and take this shiny gold star with you. 🌟 😃

[William Kremer]

Sir Henry Barton was the mayor of London in the early 15th century, the anecdote is that he made a rule for street facing houses to provide public lighting.

I like that approach too, I'm much the same in that regard, I will suppose there's more after our lights go out, although I do guess that if it's otherwise there will be no I to prove wrong.

Thanks Lorry, I appreciate you reading and reviewing. If you need me I'll be burnishing my gold star over here haha.

[redd Brick Keshner]

Brings so many dusk to evening memories into a kaleidoscope. Particularly loved the direly star horizon 🙏🏻🕊️

[William Kremer]

I can only hope they're the good ones brought back for you mate, thankyou very much for reading and leaving a review. Much appreciated.

I plan on focusing my attention on ritualized/ceremonious use of light for a bit but I'm now finding myself a bit distracted; just moved place and now I'm atop a mountain that's east facing.. it will definitely take a minute for words to be able to flow again due to me being awestruck every morning haha

[redd Brick Keshner]

That was firefly-star horizon, lol! And only good memories here. Some brain studies show that our memories are typically redacted to protect us from overly disturbing experiences. Our front door and masterbedroom faces south so the light is pretty even from sunrise to sunset. Considering getting some block out for more control of outside light 🕊️🙏

[Chris Shaw]

I really enjoyed this poem, particularly the first stanza and the question you pose. Lovely thoughts.

Chris

[William Kremer]

Thank you Chris I appreciate you taking the time to read and review.

I feel I could (and maybe should) explore ritualised or ceremonious uses of light indefinitely.