Marriage With the Goddess (new poem)

Marriage With the Goddess (New Poem)
by Tim Kavi

across the veils of time and space,

in a still and sacred place,

I beheld your face—

the moon’s own grace.

when silence sang across the void,

and light and shadow intertwined,

our vows were written in the mind

of heaven, not destroyed.

what words suffice for such a flame?

when yin calls yang by secret name,

and breath to breath, our souls align—

a kiss becomes the grand design.

no thread of history could weave

the pattern fate had dared conceive;

yet in your lace, the cosmos stirred,

the stars themselves became our word.

no utterance was ever truer

than your love—

a river to my fire,

a whisper to my roar.

and still, eternal,

our union stands:

the goddess in my trembling hands,

the lover in my heart’s command—

one soul,

no matter what.

Candles and Shadows (new poem)

 

More About Goddesses: The Greek Goddess Hera

More about Goddesses: The Greek Goddess Hera

by Tim Kavi

Hera acts as the reigning queen of the gods in Greek mythology due to her role as Zeus’s wife. (Her counterpart is the Roman Goddess Juno). Hera also acts as the goddess of marriage and childbirth. Because Zeus is also the god of philanderers, their natures would frequently clash. This has led to Hera being depicted as a quarrelsome and jealous goddess that can be a force to be reckoned with. In spite of her place as Zeus’s bride, the worship of Hera is actually much older than that of her husband, stemming back to the days when the Greeks believed that any single entity associated with divinity must take the form of a woman. Her role is believed to have changed when the male’s role in procreation became more understood, leading to Hera’s worship as a mother figure rather than an all-encompassing deity.

Much of Hera’s jealousy was directed toward women that Zeus seduced or had affairs with, though one of the most common legends associated with Hera is her jealousy toward the hero Hercules. This jealousy stemmed from the fact that Zeus fathered Hercules with the mortal Alcmene, a mortal. Hera went as far as to send snakes to kill Hercules when he was a baby. She also stirred the Amazons against him while he was on a quest.

Another famous legend associated with Hera has to do with the judgment of Paris. At the wedding between Peleus and Thetis (the later parents of Achilles) many gods and goddesses were invited to the ceremony. Eris, the goddess of discord, threw a golden apple among some of the goddesses, and only the fairest was to own the apple. Since Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite claimed to be the most beautiful goddess, a decision had to be made as to which goddess should own the apple. The goddesses brought the question before Zeus, but Zeus was wise enough to leave the choice of who was the most beautiful up to Paris, a Trojan prince. So the three Goddesses, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite came before Paris, but he could not decide. Finally, each of them offered Paris a gift to try to persuade him. It is said that Athena offered him great fame and glory in battle, Hera offered him control over all of Asia and Europe, and Aphrodite offered him the most beautiful mortal woman in the world. Because of this he chose Aphrodite, which absolutely enraged the other two goddesses, especially Hera. Of course, the most beautiful woman in the world at that time was Helen of Troy who was already married to the King of Sparta. So after the abduction of Helen by Paris, there was a great war (partially stirred up by the jealous goddesses); and this was called the Trojan war.

There is some debate surrounding Hera’s familial roles. Some origin stories depict Hera’s parents as the Titans Rhea and Cronos, making her Zeus’s sister. Given these close family ties, there is some debate on whether or not Zeus and Hera produced children together. Hera is known as the lone parent of Hephaestus. Ares and Hebe are often depicted as the children of Zeus and Hera, but in some traditions Ares is seen to have been conceived from a flower in the field of Olenus and Hebe fathered by a lettuce. These tales may have been invented to avoid adding scandal to Hera’s myth.

In any regard, the Greek goddess Hera is a major part of goddess mythologies and motifs. She is not only a fierce mother image, but also that of the fierce, powerful wife, and symbolizes both a wifely devotion towards her husband, and respect for the protection of marriage.

'I Know You...Hand in Hand' (new anniversary poem) (Tim Kavi's VALENTINES BE MINE FOR NINE Posting 5)

I love You Hand in Hand (new poem)
 和老婆手牵手 
by Tim Kavi

special times
are these
moments in a history
that flies past

that says
I love you!
each to the other
from their heart
as that love
is the language
of all words expressed

in the fast lanes
of modern life

as we hold onto something
each other
sometimes that richness
is all we've got

but what richness!
precious find
true gold rush
those that truly love

that love would bring
one from two families
two worlds apart
even across the universe
to join

hand in hand

that looking back now
there is still
the joys of discovery
as we see each other
eye to eye

hearts beat
next to each other
in the living security
of all that is
lived out

hand in hand

gentle whispers
may make the moment
seem less sensational
than it is

but in those whispers
are mighty shouts
declarations of love
that say

I know you!
I love you!
hand in hand

that is the
eternal bread
the lasting truth
and the destined
determination to love

to say
we will turn again
to each other
facing all this life
is;

hand in hand.

Poet's Afterword:  Posting 5 in my VALENTINES BE MINE FOR NINE---is a special anniversary poem. And today (Feb. 9th) is the actual anniversary for two very special people.  Now, the Chinese have a very special concept that symbolizes the union between two people in love, and this is often stated in English as 'hand in hand'. In this case, the narrator of the poem is specifically the husband to the wife; hence the special 'hand in hand' designation towards the wife-- 和老婆手牵手 .

At a Moroccan Wedding (wedding poem) (Tim Kavi's VALENTINES BE MINE FOR NINE! Posting 2)

At a Moroccan Wedding

by Tim Kavi

happy couples

inspire us all

to seize love

face love

in it be tall

and when moments

like this

reward that search

we know

we have loved

powerfully

strongly

and made history

so made brave

by our love

we confidently

face life

together as

husband and wife!

Poet's Afterword: In posting #2 we have a special wedding poem (short but sweet) for a special pair of friends of mine.  So to Judy and Abderrahim, I wish you continued happiness in the power of love. You are not only a muse, but a great blessing over the years.  You guys have been reading my poems for over six years! And I am so inspired by your great love for each other.  HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO EVERYONE~~TK

Yet the Goddess Hid Her Face (New Poem)

"Yet the Goddess Hid Her Face"
by Tim Kavi

In the Autumn morning before it was brought to light,
the cisterns had all been lit
the corners had all been swept.

Ophelia and Psyche had cleaned the room
it was then the song had a sacred cleft;
for in the Song, an ancient ode was written;
a homage to the Groom.

But behind the tambourine
a Goddess still hid her face.

Uttering the Song
The ancient Greek chorus stood as one,
at the Oracle's place in Delphi
their words mocked the gloom
for there was one much more precious
than was reflected in that night's Moon
the annals of history came and went
but the Goddess still hid her face.

The blustering winds of Furies
bashed many heroes' hopes
Even the great ones, laid among
the chains and ropes;
climbing the rocks they labored,
but to seek some redemption
they only looked to masculine selves
while the Goddess still hid her face!

Anointed with olive oil,
Athena's wisdom dripped from the vases
of Panathenaic paint, given to those skilled
in cunning ways of competitive fight
who are found in prowess, and did not faint!

Yet the Goddess still hid her face!

Then when the journey's nearly over
swords and shields in disarray
heroes sought divine help
in a homecoming not so nice
forgotten heroes;
their deeds did not suffice
to turn the cold hearts
for their exploits seemed forgotten
mythologies and old;

She began to show her face!

a smiling face that finally led
her heroes home;
by her shining grace
protected in a mist
until all is revealed

in a love so true
the seeker sought his wife
until seeking, what is found,
in unblinded eyes, scales fell;

for She now has a fully revealed face.

Ode to the Handsome Swede (Special Poem from 2011)

Ode to the Handsome Swede
by Tim Kavi

humming a sweet song

the poetry 

keeps flowing

when across the green hills of Sweden

the wedding party

was going

your sweet melodies

the wind is blowing

bringing sweet incense of perfume

innocence of love

when your smile lit the room

the handsome Swede

was smiling too

as your love

filled 

the happy groom

thoughts of peace

and no more

empty homes

two hearts

turned towards

love

and dispelled

the lonely glooms

the handsome Swede

hummed

existential songs

his new bride

had come home

she made ready

a gown of red

adorned

in Chinese love

traditions

had been met

and yet

there was

still

the promise

of even more

for all the glories

their love had

in store

for all the stories

could never be sold

in thousands

of novels

of myths

and legends

every time

their love was told

you see it seems

simple

but no love ever is

they found each other

and that's all

the mystery 'tis

two hearts

thought they had been

left

only to find the other

behind the veil's

cleft

a great love

with wings

flew to him

the handsome Swede

said

and for all

this there

was destiny

forever

plainly read.

Poet's Afterword--this poem celebrates a wedding between two very special friends of mine.  It was originally a private poem for the two of them, but  'reappears' here in my blog by their permission.  I know you will join me in congratulating the happy couple, who exemplify a wonderful destination of love--a cross cultural and happy marriage across two of the kindest hearts I've ever known.~~T.K.