 |
| Belobog & Chernobog Anarh1a Used With Permission |
Chernobog is the darkest matter,
haggard falcon god loathed for his permeation
of the universe, his refusal to be discovered –
We feel him uncontained within
our own wretched organic selves, closer
than baryonic heartrate and fleshly parts –
And this, we fear: our concept of person
exists in a void of inner space, an abyss of endless
foreboding that we are not here at all –
We cower behind the features
of fierce animals, we drink from the same cup,
cursing in the name of every god we know –
But art requires heart and a handhold
on sacred knowledge, that both dark and light
manifest an inherent duality of soul –
Thus we strap jesses to Belobog’s ankles,
tame the white falcon to hunt for redemption
in the lower worlds of our unconscionable minds –
Art FLASH! today features the work of Russian artist, Anarh1a. More of her work can be found on her Instagram account @anarh1a
Ah, Kerry, I love the title and how your poem overflows with mythology. I especially enjoyed the portrait you painted of Chernobog as something ‘uncontained within our own wretched organic selves, closer than baryonic heartrate and fleshly parts’, and the idea that we ‘cower behind the features of fierce animals’. The twist in the falcon's tale is the contrast in the final stanza, the ‘inherent duality of soul ‘, and that we seem to have been on the same wavelength with the jesses!
ReplyDeleteI think it is our Shakespearean roots there, on jesses.. Othello, 'If I do prove her haggard,. Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings, I'd whistle her off and let her down the wind. To prey at fortune.'
DeleteI spent a good deal of time, thinking about this myth of creation, and reading up on dark matter, and came to some conclusions of my own of how mankind has used various stories to explain the universe over the centuries, all remarkably similar. I find the topic endlessly fascinating.
I really love how you dived so deeply in the myth of creation... especially how the darkness of creation to be conquered by light seems to origin from our own self.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that battle between dark and light is so profound, we have imbibed it into our very consciousness. Thank you, Bjorn.
DeleteMy goodness this is good!💖 I love and resonate with "uncontained within our own wretched organic selves, closer than baryonic heartrate and fleshly parts," which is a deeply poignant observation.. yes he exists and resides within us. It is a constant struggle as we fight to mantain hold upon ourselves as being human we are a blend of both light and dark.💖
ReplyDeleteVery well stated, Sanaa. It is a poignant moment when one comes to terms with the coinciding dark and light matter within one's own psyche.
DeleteI do like your title muchly. You went deeper into the myth of creation than I did. You also brought into the forefront our struggle with dark and light. We are both light and dark and good and evil. Sometimes though, some of us are darker and more evil than others.
ReplyDeleteI am also pleased with the title, the double meaning works better than expected. I always write the title last and try to not give too much away. Thanks, Toni.
DeleteYou went to mythology in this piece and connected each of us to it. We often thing of our dark side as inherently evil because religion prefers it. I find I enjoy writing from the darkness in me. Love your ending!
ReplyDeleteI am very pleased to know that readers could feel the connection to my ideology here, Susie. It was a vast notion, hard to compress into 3 stanzas.
DeleteYou plunged deeply into the heart of mythology here. The macrocosm of creation is reflected in the microcosm of the human heart. We have the power to travel into our inner darkness from the moment we proclaim to ourselves, "Let there be light."
ReplyDeleteThe macrocosm of creation is reflected in the microcosm of the human heart...
DeleteThat is perfectly stated! Thank you, Rommy.
Without Chernobog, Belobog is halved. Halves rarely do well. There is nothing to center it, little to encourage it to grow. But when two halves fight for the whole, oh! the power, the possibilities...
ReplyDeleteYes! Exactly that.. no need to demonize the dark side but to keep it in harmony with the light.
DeleteA fascinating read. I especially loved your closing stanza.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sherry. I'm glad that worked.
DeleteWithin ourselves, for sure
ReplyDeleteA balancing act.
DeleteVery well done, Kerry, identifying where these birds fly in the soul -- soil and heaven, dark matter, gut bacteria & Chernobyl and courage, love & art. Great notion that art is what enables us to embrace our darkness. Reminds me of something Rilke said once that we cannot embrace life without a willingness to welcome death as well.
ReplyDelete