Poem: Questions

[dragonyphoenix]

– She's amazing.
– Days before I met Tom, she described him to a T. She even knew where we'd meet.
– You know she hit it square on the head when she said I'd barely get even a crappy raise this year.
– You have to come with us.

The sibyl worked out of a magic shop.
Tarot readings the sign said.
Your gaze darted about like a bee buzzing from flower to flower:
        from candles
        to scents – were you allowed to smell them?
        to statues
        to dream weavers – weren't they Native American? Why were they in a magic shop?

– Don't mind all that junk. She's back here.
– We'll all go in together so you can watch ours and see what it's like.

They were trying to reassure you,
your cousin and her best friend,
but their questions were so mundane
        – When will Tom pop the question?
        – Should I apply for this new job?
that you wondered why they even bothered to ask.

They were trying to reassure you,
but with your cousin and her best friend sitting there,
you couldn't ask what you really wanted to know:
        Will I be wild and free?
        Will I love my live?
        Will there be joy?
Instead you asked what they expected of you.
        – Will I have children?
        – What will they be like?

The woman stared as if waiting for your true question
but then spread out the cards and told you of two children,
a girl and a boy,
and what they would look like,
and when to expect them.

Note: There is a pagan group that used to (may still do) invoke Cerridwen into three priestesses – as Maiden, Mother, and Crone – for divinatory purposes. It was a wonderful ritual and I went at least two or three years running, but I always had the question of what I should ask. I am personally perfectly happy, in general, to see what will happen as my life unfolds. I never really had big enough questions that seemed worth asking. That's where this poem comes from.
Note: Written as a response to the prompt: What the Oracle didn't tell you.

Comments

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

That is such an intriguing piece.


Gabrielle

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I think "What would you ask a seer?" is such an interesting question.

[comlodge.livejournal.com]

That's perfect. It's so true. I used to frequent a little tea shop in town, many years ago, with work colleagues. That's exactly what they asked. I just had the leaves read, whatever she wanted to say.
I think I've mostly been wild and free in my own way except when I forget. :D

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

The children question was based on what my sister had asked. The others I guessed at.

Unfortunately it's so very easy to forget to be wild and free. ;-)