Closed for Lunch
The sign said “Closed for Lunch”,
and stopping at the iron grilled gate leading
down to the Catacombs in the City of Ladies,
brought a sigh.
There was another sigh from the shadows…
“Why are you here again? Your mother has been
looking for you.”
The shadow near the gate rippled with a gesture of
agitation.
“I don’t know. I am listening to the stories, on my walking
tour with the other travellers…”
“We have your itinerary, and it all checks out. We’re closed for
lunch, and there’s no need to go back in.”
The sun beamed off the white buildings of the City
and I stepped out of the shadows of the gate which
led downward.
A raven flew down and squawked, with a note in its beak
for me. It read:
“Seven black seeds and a pomegranate. Paid in full.”
I looked up from the note to the shadow, which
had gone quiet in reserve.
This sense of reserve seemed to translate into the
solution to a puzzle, as if a final word in a crossword
or similar mind game, within.
It was like a settling, something had settled.
“You know all you need to know,” said the shadow.
“I admit I have been coming here for months, in one way or
another. It’s good to see the pomegranate…”
My mother was calling me, wanting me to
go to the Mouseion, to gather more wisdom and
apply it, it was right to suppose.
Surrendering the dark cloak, now dusty and dry
with age, I walked away from the Catacombs,
following the map to the Mouseion.
The shadow by the gate receded.
(copyright Imogen Crest 2008.)
Very lovely and enigmatic. I feel like I’ve entered a dream and have woken up too soon.
porchsitter
June 25, 2008 at 1:46 pm
And a bit of myth to go with the catacombs…Very nice, Monika.
shewolfy728
June 25, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Seven black seeds and a pomegranate I love the image it conjurs in my mind.
Vi
woodnymph
June 25, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I like the mysterious air of this piece, of things said and unsaid…lovely.
Jill
June 25, 2008 at 2:14 pm
“You know all you need to know,” — such wise words, but hard to believe when the Shadow is talking to us one-on-one, isn’t it?
kvwordsmith
June 25, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Lovely,Monika- how well you capture the ethereal, mythic quality of Lemuria.
gailkav
June 25, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I find nothing strange in my Mother
calling me to answer her
” I often say to her ” What do you want Jessie Georgina Craske”
Sometimes I will answer her quite loudly when others are here
That look that says ” She is talking to the Muse again”
I often talk to them when I am collecting lemons from that old tree
My Father and Mother are in the ashes under the Lemon.
I know that if someone had lived in a house since 1928
There must be footprints ,auras,reminders
There must be their smell in the blossom on the tree
There must be something left after such a long time.
I am always reminded when lemons are given
the often said remark is
” How do they smell and taste so sweet from such an old tree”
I can’t explain this myserty to others
Except to say to myself ” There is still a calling to be heard”
when the tree is begging to have its fruit given away for pleasure.
And that is coming because those who lived,loved had good and bad times
and who lived with the tree are still part of it
In its blossom,its fruit and leaves and the soil that abounds it .
Lois (muse of the sea) Thursday 26th June 08
The birthday of Jessie Georgina Craske (Daley) Born 26/6/1904.
lois (aka Druscilla)
June 26, 2008 at 3:23 am
It is the ethereal quality which you capture so brilliantly. Enigmatic and mysterious. Beautifully crafted. What a joy!
Heather Blakey
June 26, 2008 at 4:57 am
Thanks so much everyone for these wonderful comments!!
imogen88
June 26, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I really like this, Monika. And Lois’s poem, too!
jodhiay
June 26, 2008 at 2:38 pm