Poetry Blog No 128 Three "Time" Poems- The Wings of the Hours, The Naming of the Days, Yesterday

THREE POEMS ON "TIME" - The Wings of the Hours, The Naming of the Days, Yesterday

Time is a mysterious thing in some respects. These three short poems for younger readers are in one way or another about time. I do not believe "simpler" poems are of lesser value than more apparently complex ones. In some respects it is easier to be "deep and obscure" than to find something that works in a plainer way. The Wings of the Hours is a metaphor for the mystery of time's passing, The Naming of the Days captures in verse the origin of our English day names but also echoes the cyclic nature of time and Yesterday is about our relationship to the past. All three have previously been in The NSW School Magazine.

THE WINGS OF THE HOURS

Twenty-four birds at the break of the day;

Twenty-four birds fly up and away.

Some of them pearl, some golden-bright,

Twenty-four birds rising up in swift flight.

Some of the moon, some of the sun;

Each of them soaring, one after one.

Some fly in silence, some sing a song-

But when they have flown, where have they gone?

THE NAMING OF THE DAYS

Sunday is the sun's own day;

Powerful-glows his warm, bright ray.

Monday has the moon's fine sign,

Pale and silver-white her shine.

Tuesday carries Tiw's name;

Strength of courage is his claim.

Wotan's day is Wednesday here;

Wisdom brings he, deep and clear.

Thursday's Thor, whose hammer blow

Makes thunder roll and lightning glow.

Friday comes from Freya the Fair;

Goddess of love with golden hair.

Saturn rules on Saturday;

Father Time moves on his way.

So once more comes Sunday's dawn;

Seven more days will be born.

Seven days, forever new,

These are days all named for you.

 

                 YESTERDAY

Where does yesterday go?

Do you know? Do you know?

If time flies,

Where does it go,

To what strange skies?

A wise, old owl

Whispered to me,

“Go down the pathways of the past,

Turn the silver key,

Open the golden gate at last.

What do you find?

Use the eyes of your mind.”

“Has yesterday

All gone away

And vanished now

Entirely?

Or is it there,

In the magical air;

In the hidden kingdom

Of Memory?”