hawthorn heart opener
mayblossom when spring winds fly—
open my heart with your five-petaled flower.
i carry your heart
hawthorn heart breaker
quickthorn when summer cicadas sing—
pierce my heart with your sharpest dart.
i carry your heart
hawthorn heart mender
thornapple when autumn leaves turn to ground—
heal my heart with your bitter berry.
i carry your heart
hawthorn heart protector
hedgethorn when winter snows fall—
shelter my heart with your brittle branches.
i carry your heart
hawthorn heart weaver
hagthorn when deepest darkness takes me—
center my heart with your mythic medicine.
i carry your heart
i carry it in my heart
*******
Image: UATH Irish Ogham by Lunaria Gold
Hawthorn has a long history as a heart protector. When your heart is broken so badly that it hurts, hawthorn offers you medicine and protects you while you heal. Herbalists use hawthorn as a cardiotonic, relaxant and antioxidant herb. It can also help stabilize blood pressure, regulate cholesterol and reduce oxidative stress on your vascular system. (Source: Amber Westfall, The Wild Garden)
This poem is dedicated with love to my big-hearted and beloved husband Richard and his complicated relationship with hawthorn (and with me).
And a lower-case bow to one of my favourite poets, e e cummings.
Oh and . . this beautiful song by Ottawa singer/songwriter Craig Cardiff very much belongs here too.
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Great Poem! I love it. Miriam
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Thank you Miriam!!
Lovely poem! I saw a song in it…
Wouldn’t it be great if we can sing it?
Thank you! I love that idea!
Love it hon!
Love you! xo
Love the flow of the poem. The way the hawthorn goes from spring to winter. Are all those terms a natural part of the hawthorn or did you make them up. (mayblossom, thornapple, etc)
So poetic!
Thanks Haley! Those words are different names for Hawthorn that are found in the literature. The words in italics at the beginning represent the etymology of the word.
Again, your poetry stirs me deeply. Thank you.
Thank you, Sophia! That poem was reposted by mistake actually. I’ve been redoing the images on my website and must’ve pressed a wrong button!
Thank you dear Sophia!!