Mary's Mixed Bag

 Over in the Garden, this is the last challenge of Mary's Mixed Bag.  Thank you Mary :D

Kerry initiated this challenge:    Imagine you hold a bag which contains two objects: one which can heal and one which can harm.  Only you may identify these two objects through touch, texture, shape-recognition and imaginative exploration. Which object would you withdraw first? Does the good out-weigh the bad, or is harm something that cannot be prevented? Use one of these two items as the starting point of your poem and move towards the other in conclusion. It is up to you whether you will begin with the healing or harmful thing. Lastly, the hidden objects may be either real or abstract.


 Can you guess what my objects are? 





Moon's magic soon outlines Fool
sheer drapes veil the Queen 
shooting stars quiver
from Archer's bow
arrows guide the glowing eyes of wolves 
his hunting dogs
they protect their Queen
Aquarius pours her tea  
a cup of Heavenly Water
Did you see the Swan?

Empress' hair color of field ripe wheat
her crown clustered stars
her gown white dotted with ruby red Pomegranates
heart shielded close by
Her daughter Persephone taken
Full Moon rises between two pillars
illuminating the path of tears



Tarnished trees intersect historic pass
right angles meet
Rumor first carried in the hands of Egyptian priest
God's lamb
mine is gold, small, fragile
arms of teaching
reaching 
equal in length
must climb 3 steps up hill
and carry
faith, hope and love. 

© Ellen Wilson









See Fool has a bag


Empress has a crown of stars








Comments

Mixi said…
I read this poem thrice, and I still need a couple of reads before I can grasp all the elements you've used here!

And no, I have not been able to identify your chosen objects (Sorry :( Put it down to my denseness!)

Ella said…
I showed my hand at the end..Tarot Cards and a Cross necklace :D

Yes, I tried to layer this one....the Swan is the cross in the Stars...first photo! Sorry, I didn't mean to be that mysterious~
Kay L. Davies said…
I was thinking gold jewelry, but I didn't think of the tarot cards even though they were staring me right in the face.
A good mystery, and a unique response to the prompt.
Well done, Ella.
K
Mary said…
This IS really a layered masterpiece, Ella. You put so much of 'you' into your poetry. "Faith, hope, and love." If we all had these characteristics on a regular basis, the world would be a better place.
Lolamouse said…
Very cool poem, Ella. I love Tarot cards-the pictures are so interesting. I must admit, though, that I thought one of your objects was the constellations!
When I read the last line, I knew what the final item was!
Kerry O'Connor said…
This is a fascinating piece, from the arcane tarot cards to the cross, and paths of religion and superstition cross.
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Such an intriguing write. I never could have guessed, glad you told us at the end.....very mysterious. I love the way you weave your thoughts in poems........your style really draws the reader along. Well done. kiddo.
Mary Ann Potter said…
It's beautiful. A unique collection of items woven together with words. I especially liked the crown of stars and the pomegranates!
Brian Miller said…
hey you got all bases covered carrying both...i thought initially you might have a star map...love the sky...and the stars...really cool though...not bad to have in your bag...smiles.

happy saturday to you
Shelly said…
Very cool...from Persephone to the cross.

Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Marian said…
oooooh, Demeter's dress with a field of pomegranates! love this, Ella.
DEZMOND said…
love the flowers in your header, Ella. We call that flower Golden Rain here and it really comes first in the spring announcing the end of winter. My trademark flower from April will be daffodils :)
Susie Clevenger said…
We don't know what cards we will draw...love your poem. So much to think about..imagine. Nice job!!
Susan said…
Mixed bag indeed! First Astrology, then Tarot--which is christian mysticism--and then the cross with altars and stations and jobs in the real world. Perhaps you chose the latter and the other two chose you? It's a good mix, I think, though you could still add to it. No reason to make the choice easy.
Talli Roland said…
Yikes, no way could I have guessed those objects. Well done!
Brother Ollie said…
thoughtful and well crafted - it is always good to go to the stars!
Laurie Kolp said…
Love this Ella... especially the last stanza, the right angles and equal length arms reaching and teaching... faith, hope and love. Yes!
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Ella said…
Hi Laurie-I thought it was a cool way to describe the Cross :D
Thank you~

Hi Ollie-Yes, those stars have a lot to tell ;D Thank you~

Talli-Really? lol Thank you~ Hope you and your family are doing well!
He is adorable :D

Susan-Thank you! Yes, I could of gone long, so much detail in both areas. There is also so many symbols and then signs... Yeah, tough to narrow down... ;D Yes, chose the later-I like that~

Hi Susie-Thank you! ;D Yes, the intersections of life-are never dull~

Dezzy-Thank you for sharing! This is beautiful :D I love the name~
Here, the first Robin and the Forsythia blooming are the signs spring has made her grand entrance! I love daffodils ;D @>----------

Marian-Thank you! I kinda like her Crown of stars ;D

Unknown said…
I picked up on the Tarot Cards, but the necklace eluded me until I saw your photos. Lots of imagery, here, Ella. Much to consider.
Ella said…
Shelly-Hi! Thank you I'm sending you hugs and Cadbury Eggs ;D Do you like peeps? lol

Hi Brian-I walk almost every night to look up at the stars! :D Thank you~ Hope you have a great week!
These two subjects offer a lot of wonder!

Hi Mary Ann-Thank you! Yes, I do love her crown ;D I thought it fun to see how to outline the Swan.
I didn't know about it~ Hope you had fun in your studio :D

Sherry-Thank you! Yes, it took a bit of time to figure out how to do this prompt. I think all poets share their lives, in this secret language ;D

Kerry-Thank you! Yes, a lot of ideology and intersections crossing, on these two paths. I tried to trend carefully :D

Alex-You are so clever :D I like that you knew~

Lolamouse-I can see why! ;D I didn't know about the Swan constellation?! I was thinking of Shakespeare:

Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
(Julius Caesar, 1.2.146), Cassius to Brutus


It is the stars,
The stars above us, govern our conditions.
(King Lear, 4.3.37), Kent

I do think I might of blurred these two, lol ;D Thank you!

Mary-Thank you :D I know, we do need to consider these stairs. The Cross with stairs represents these three.

Hi Kay-I think I went too mystical, lol ;D Thank you~

Mixi-I guess I layered it too much ;D Oops! Thanks for being a good sport~

Ella said…
Hi Kim,
I thought you would get it :D
Yes, I think it is so easy to blur the lines~ Thank you Kim! @>--------