We are no woman
no man
Upwards we fall through a golden light
undefined by genitalia
untranslatable wombsibs of this land
with a hundred words for ice
but only one for hearth
mother is a mason
holds us tight, tighter
in the folds of life
left to us is mindspeech
the old times, the new ways
as we bond in somer
we are human
as we fall in kemmer
upwards, always upwards
dark-of-the-mooners
suns burning wild
copper-red light, tight, tighter
in electric embraces
we shape each other
blood are the tales of this love
fire the language of ice
the king is with child
in the act of creation, praise
There is time for motion and time for rest
there is even and odd, right and left
there is a beginning and there is an end
darkness and light walk hand in hand
but old times or new ways
somer or kemmer
love is love
We are one
Inspired by Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness and the short story Coming of Age in Karhide.
Basilike Pappa lives in Greece. Her poetry has appeared on Rat’s Ass Review, Surreal Poetics and Bones – Journal for Contemporary Haiku. More of her work can be seen on Silent Hour.
Go Dog Go Café 
Jeez!
I am in love with this.
How beautifully the words are striking chord.
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Thank you very much, friend!
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Always.
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Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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Thank you for the honor!
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Bravissima
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Thank you!
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Exquisite piece. Brava!
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Thank you, Eugenia!
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You’re welcome.
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Reblogged this on Silent Hour and commented:
The Go Dog Go Café is cozy, sweet and inspiring. I was over there as a guest barista yesterday, and was very happy to share my words with the lovely writers who meet there.
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this is absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking! I love it!
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Thank you, Eric! You are always very kind!
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There are some wonderful lines in here: “a hundred words for ice/ but only one for hearth” and “suns burning wild/ copper-red light, tight, tighter…” Love the details.
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Thank you, Ryan!
It’s true that on planet Gethen they have dozens of words for snow, and that the hearth is the center of family life. I just wrote it down. I’m glad you like the way I did it, though!
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Mesmerizing
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I’m happy you like it, Ortensia!
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Words of brilliance. I very much liked this writing.
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Thank you very much!
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I love the way this poem pulled me higher and higher. Isn’t it amazing how words can create that sensation? Yes, it is! Beautiful, Basilike. Thanks for sharing your day as the barista!
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Thank you for being here to share it with me!
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Wow, B. I somehow missed this one.
Gorgeous.
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