NaPoWriMo (Day 25): Aisling

 
For the month of April, I’m writing a poem a day from prompts on https://www.napowrimo.net. You can click on the headlines (Day One, etc) to view/add comments. There’s also a list of participants’ sites below the site header.

25

Today’s (optional) prompt is based on the aisling, a poetic form that developed in Ireland. An aisling recounts a dream or vision featuring a woman who represents the land or country on/in which the poet lives, and who speaks to the poet about it. Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem that recounts a dream or vision, and in which a woman appears who represents or reflects the area in which you live. Perhaps she will be the Madonna of the Traffic Lights, or the Mysterious Spirit of Bus Stops. Or maybe you will be addressed by the Lost Lady of the Stony Coves. Whatever form your dream-visitor takes, happy writing!

 
Aisling
 
She walked in on spiral shells
the tide had spat out,
water circling the indentations,
inviting her reflection.
 
Her footprints in the silk sand
ran like dots along the length
of the surf. She hummed a song
as it ebbed and flowed
in a rhythm at one with her voice.
 
She showed us the horizon,
a far-off scrawl of mauve crayon,
and waved how far she’d come
to tell us such a small thing:
 
the light on the ocean is forever;
it will never fade,
never blow out.
 
Copyright Vickie Johnstone, April 25, 2022