This post is part of the ‘A Poem A Day’ series (A daily challenge hosted by The.Poetry.Pub on Instagram) I have invited you to play along with me in my ‘It’s Time’ post. You will find all the information you need there.
I’d like to take you on a mini adventure into my mind, aka my thought process, as we explore today’s @the.poetry.pub ‘A poem a Day’ prompt “Equinox”.
If you write, you know that it is not often a magical occurrence how the words end up on the page and become a poem or story that is readable, engaging and inspiring.
It is undeniably, a tale of two halves.
The first half is the minutes/ hours/ days you spend, curiously, fanatically, researching and exploring a word or idea that has come to mind. (Did you get lost?)
The second half is the actual writing down of the words, in a sensory order and wishing them well on their journey. (This one can be elusive!)
In a somewhat nonsensical fashion, I am sharing my approach to these two halves with you.
As the sun sets on Friday, September 22, 2023, at precisely 11:49 PM PST, the Northern Hemisphere will welcome the Autumnal Equinox, marking the end of summer and the beginning of fall. This celestial event, also known as Mabon, is distinguished by the harmonious balance between day and night.
Anny Papatheodorou,Triple Moon Psychotherapy
I find when pondering on an everyday word like ‘path’ a poem will fall out of my head with little consciousness on my part (Usually because I have a personal experience that is triggered/ glimmered by the word). This is good because the thinking part can be where we as writers trip up and end up down ‘doubtful lane’ with no visible exit.
On occasional days a word intrigues my curiosity and I need to delve into its depths like a thirst gulps a glass of water down.
A word such as “Equinox”.
My first port of call is the dictionary (via Google) to be clear on what the word's meaning is. In addition, I like to know its earliest origin. This information is not necessarily a reliable source and can end in another trail!
in British English
(ˈiːkwɪˌnɒks IPA Pronunciation Guide, ˈɛkwɪˌnɒks IPA Pronunciation Guide)
NOUN
1. either of the two occasions, six months apart, when day and night are of equal length See vernal equinox, autumnal equinox
2. another name for equinoctial point
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Origin:
C14: from Medieval Latin equinoxium, changed from Latin aequinoctium, from aequi- equi- + nox night
Seeking out the meaning of a word can provide you with an anchor, which is not dissimilar to the ’trigger/glimmer’ effect I mentioned earlier. I was drawn initially to the ‘equal light and dark’ of the word which I felt could lend itself to a relationship of kinds.
I wasn’t taken enough with that and the sparkle of ‘origin’ hypnotised me into its realm.
I had entered the abyss.
Encouraged by the yearning I have for home I followed my ancestral line to Wales and tried to find a connection. These elements of exploration can not be forced and that tale is not ready to be told. Mabon and the light I will leave for another day.
As I am writing this post after a morning of ‘gathering’ or rather trawling the internet I realise I am going off from myself, I am not an academic who wishes to impart the minute details of their learning from books and professors. Yes, I find history, and origins intriguing, and I will make note of anything I wish to pick up and feast upon.
Today I was reminded that research needs to compost within us, in darkness before it breathes life once more in the light.
I returned to myself and the odd notes I had taken tossed aside from the idea chaos.
One was “A Half of Two Tales” which has informed and inspired this post.
The other was “The better half of me” which tugged at me for an hour or two before it became my poem of the day.
These are the Whispers that sit unnoticed, at first upon my page, scribbles perhaps at a glance and then after I have read them with my mind it is time to feel them with my heart.
Here is my poem for today:
It’s Wednesday - I’ve shared my poem in today's post and invite you to share yours in the comments. I would love everyone to read each other’s poems and if you feel called to share any positive thoughts with those who have made you smile or given you goosebumps.
Enjoy your discoveries, Love & Magic,
