Laura Taylor

Scarlet Ribbons

by Laura Taylor

Thursday 14th July 2011 10:07 am

She said that I looked Irish, as we sat and warmed our hands

Beating djembe herding us to sway and stamp and clap

I looked across and through the flames

That sighed and licked up over logs

Into her eyes, in all their eyes

The light: not fading, changed

Scarlet ribbons curling around

Stripes of orange and yellowy waves

Flickering bright in midnight blue sky

Suffusing aurora with sun-blushing power

Crackling snapping of logs thick and strong

Showers of fiery dust rising up

Tiny pinpricks of glittery gold

Like fairytale fireworks, glinting and gone

Its internal life drives us to recite

The lines that connect us to each other’s souls

The courage and call, to charm, to enchant

Anke djé, anke bé: hallowing light

She said that I looked Irish, as we sat with one another

Swaying to the djembe with new sisters and new brothers

Scarlet ribbons for our hair, just as dawn was breaking

In the shadowlands and valleys surrounding Pendle Hill

According to the Bamana people in Mali, the name of the djembe comes directly from the saying "Anke djé, anke bé" which translates to "everyone gather together in peace" and defines the drum's purpose.

love peace fire festival drums

◄ Ring of Roses

Cause and Effect ►

Comments

Elaine Booth

Tue 16th Aug 2011 23:47

Almost prayer-like, evoking such a feeling of peacefulness and compassion. I think that you have conveyed what you felt very successfully. XX

Laura Taylor

Mon 18th Jul 2011 10:46

Thanks very much Jeff and Deb - aye, cannae beat a proper big fire and the drums a-beating! You can keep all your fancy Glastonbury Arcadia stuff - I'm deliriously happy with the most important basics

Jeff Dawson

Sat 16th Jul 2011 08:46

Scarlet ribbons, beautiful thoughts can feel the warmth from that fire now, grest stuff Laura, hope to see ya soon Jeff X

Deborah Jordan Bailey

Sat 16th Jul 2011 08:31

Nothing can equal a fire outside for the;
"call, to charm, to enchant.."
lovely evocative poem Laura, made me wish I'd been there. Now you've taught me something too this week, I had no idea that djembe meant that and as you say it really does define it's purpose. Debx

shoeless

Fri 15th Jul 2011 10:53

this is special for me, beautiful stuff

Laura Taylor

Fri 15th Jul 2011 10:52

Thanks folks - am thinking of an idea for performing it, so maybe at the next Tudor :)

Francine - this was inspired by the most recent festie we went to, Beat-Herder, in the lovely Ribble Valley, and the 'ambiance of fellowship' that you mention is at the core of it. There's a magic about the place and the punters that you just don't get anywhere else.

That pic btw is actually of the real deal Beat-Herder fire. It never goes out for the whole 3 days, and is the best festie fire I've ever spent time by. I'd like to credit the photographer as I found it on flickr - guy goes by the name of Alfred3000, and he has taken some of the best shots of that fire ever. Check him out on flickr and you can see more pics of Beat-Herder :)

Philipos

Thu 14th Jul 2011 22:39

Packed with such lovely images, my fav: Showers of fiery dust rising up Tiny pinpricks of glittery gold Like fairytale fireworks, glinting and gone'

Like Dave would love to have heard this read.

Thanks for the kind comments on Brown Sugar.

Francine

Thu 14th Jul 2011 18:55

Beautiful ambiance of fellowship... Love the title 'Scarlet Ribbons'

Favourite lines:

'Its internal life drives us to recite
The lines that connect us to each other’s souls
The courage and call, to charm, to enchant
Anke djé, anke bé: hallowing light'

Dave Bradley

Thu 14th Jul 2011 13:54

Brilliant, Laura. Hope you're doing it at the Tudor tonight.

Marianne Louise Daniels

Thu 14th Jul 2011 12:22

this is stunning and must be a treat when read out loud.

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