AT THE MOMENT OF EQUINOX by Penn Kemp

AT THE MOMENT OF EQUINOX

I enter the garden, the ground
still held by winter, spring
almost released. I stand
at the centre into which all
flow, from which all emerge.

Wind in the upper birch stills.
The garden’s breath is so long
it is immeasurable. But I wait,
offering awareness as witness.

Pivoting, I pray. North, grant us
your clarity and strength. West,
your surrender and acceptance.
South, your joy and creativity.

East, your initiation, inspiration.
Sky, your broad view. Earth,
your ground, your holy round.

The moment is held in a bowl
beyond comprehension, beyond
belief. May we carry balance

lightly on each step of the way
till it recurs six months off. May
we find a way to become whole.

May the earth find her stability.
May the equanimity of equinox
be yours, be ours, be hers all ways
belief in beyond.

* * *

(This poem is from the author's upcoming book Fox Haunts, available here.)

Portrait by Mary McDonald

Penn Kemp--poet, performer and playwright--has been active in Canada’s literary scene since her first publication of poetry, Bearing Down, by Coach House (1972). As well as editing Canada’s first anthology of women’s writing, IS 14 (1973), many of her books have been devoted to the goddess in all her guises. Kemp has been lauded as a trailblazer and a “one-woman literary industry” as London Ontario’s inaugural Poet Laureate and Western University’s Writer-in-Residence. She was the League of Canadian Poets’ Spoken Word Artist, 2015. Penn has long been a keen participant in cultural life, with thirty books of poetry, prose and drama; seven plays and ten CDs produced as well as several award-winning video-poems. Her 2018 books of poetry are Local Heroes (Insomniac), and Fox Haunts (Aeolus House). Two new plays published in 2017 about local hero Teresa Harris followed her previous books of poetry from Quattro, Barbaric Cultural Practice and Jack Layton: Art in Action. Follow her on her website, Twitter, Facebook or her blog

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