Kisses from Boreas
by Virginia Carraway Stark
After some twenty of them
had been disposed of
during the waning moon
with costumes and masks and
enchantments
he now wished he had not sacrificed
his sons
laughing
they would never throw themselves
down weeping
to die of grief
we have to rise
just as vegetation dies only to
reappear in the springtime
what’s wrong with the way I kiss?
Asked the winter wind
everything
I replied even as I thanked Boreas
in the deep of my heart
for the sweet relief from the smoke
and the flames
then it was
during the waxing moon
when costumes are removed
masks unmasked
enchantment revealed
and winter is come
– art pencil on paper, 8×10, Copyright 2008 Virginia Carraway Stark
Poerm previously published in “In Flight” magazine.
You can watch Virginia Carraway Stark read her poem here:
Here’s some information on the mythic Boreas, God of the North Wind:
