The Borrowing Winds

The Borrowing Winds

The elder by his hearth  licked his lips.

Tis the ``borrowing winds’’ They have come again.

The white horses leapt onto the shore underlining the Sage's words. The maids linen, white in the bright sun. The world was at a restless peace

The sailors sat stitching sails. Like old maids they gossiped

The Master’s charts were dusted down. Carving driftwood, to a point. The navigator let his mind wander. Words and pictures did not tell the story of the seas by themselves. The path across the ocean needed wit and wisdom to guide it. The songs of the seas, and of the river. The music of the tides of life

In his mind’s eye the navigator soared across the sea as easily as an albatross.

The Priestesses of the Muses, laughing in their temple. Whispering to each other. Comparing silks and satins. Their beauty brought suitors from across the Ocean

The disciple of the Mathematician studied her scrolls. She knew the phases of the Moon and the times of the Tides.

The daughter of Abraham who was, soon to be a bride. Staring into her burnished brass, and fussing over her hair. Haggling with the wine merchant. Yet Sheol was no mystery to her

The strong sons, of the White Goddess fishing by their shores Quiet in their industry. The Matron by the lake feasting with her friends.

In the Northern lands, under the Great Bear. On the shores stood the wise woman. She knew the secrets of the rising and setting Sun. She knew the secrets of the mountains and the trees. The Tiger and the Bear. The howling of the wolves. There was nothing she did not know

The Princess of the Woods! A warrior! Laughing whilst stroking her hound. Balancing the spear and weighing the sword in her skilled hands. No artifice of man unknown to her. The day’s work done The river bank, her fief

The Widow in Tartessos wept. She would be comforted.

The Maiden under the mountain whispered to her father

Under Capricorn. Freyah stood at the foot of her mountains. She had withstood the wrath of Poseidon. His exertions left her unimpressed

The Great Ocean spanned them all. Each one with wit and wisdom, brought the ships and fortune home