The corona virus has all but silenced
this isle of noises,
masks have muffled our voices,
damp squibs at the festival of light.
Unmasked revellers light bangers and screamers,
sparks of hope for dreamers,
while Caliban sobs in a corner
over glasses drained of wine.
Kim M. Russell, 28th December 2020
My response to earthweal weekly challenge: A Feast of Earth Fools
Brendan reminds us that we are approaching the New Year’s celebration, which won’t be much different for me this year, as I shun the annual crowds and booze, preferring to spend time in the warm with my husband, listening to music, reading, writing and, sometimes, watching fireworks on the television. As Brendan says, it will be a time of ‘reflection and resolution-making, clearing away the detritus of a difficult 2020 in the hopes that 2021 will be of a different order’.
I enjoyed Brendan’s reflections on the ebbing of moon and tides, human festivals, order and disorder, the Greek and Romans, Pagans and Christians, ghosts and fools.
For this week’s challenge, Brendan would like us to invite our dead to the feast, stage our own masques and appoint Lords of Misrule – to take it further and make this a Feast of Earth Fools.
After a couple of days away from poetry, my offering is small, an octet, a limbering up of poetic muscle for the new year.
writing in north norfolk 
Yes, I’m also living in Plague Island, UK.
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I like the way you describe your world and infuse it with the mythic. These are indeed strange and potent times.
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I like the way you describe your world and infuse it with the mythic. These are indeed strange and potent times.
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Thank you, Suzanne.
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Oh, I’m glad you invited Caliban along to your Feast of Fools. I like the reference to the Tempest in your title, too. I think he’s the most sensible of the lot, as he is weeping.
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I have a soft spot for Caliban.
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Thanks for bringing Caliban (I see Ingrid just said that) one of my favourite fools/scapegoats. There’ll be enough over-indulging going on on the 31st. I’ll sit in the corner with Caliban and we’ll weep into our glasses together.
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I’ll join you.😊
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Often the best parties are in the corner with the best bottle of wine and the most select company 🙂
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Some times the short ones are the best, love the economy and rhyme in this…happy new year Kim!
All the best, JIM.
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Thank you, Jim, and a Happy New Year to you!
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A good year for turning even celebrations inside out. (K)
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My one wish for 2021 is to see more of my daughter and grandson. Little celebrations from now on.
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As Joni said, you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone. I think we all have similar wishes.
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I wonder where England ends and Propsero’s island picks up … the party’s din has dimmed, but Caliban I think will muck his way through. As long as Ariel has poetry to goose him with … Thanks for bringin’ it to earthweal, a fine offering.
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Cheers Brendan! I prefer Caliban’s poetry to Ariel’s – he really loves his island.
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Yes, he’s much more of our Earth.
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Weeping over glasses of wine is appropriate. I joke that trump has been directly responsible for my wine intake this past year.
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🤓
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