Viral Poetry

So apparently it's Imbolc/Brigid's Feast as well as being Groundhog Day (some sources say Imbolc was yesterday, but whatever), and there's poetry thing (via January One) going on to celebrate. Now I'm more of a prose girl (also the one university-level English course I took managed to put me off reading poetry for a long time), so my contribution comes from a singer/songwriter.

Dante's Prayer

When the dark wood fell before me
And all the paths were overgrown
When the priests of pride say there is no other way
I tilled the sorrows of stone

I did not believe because I could not see
Though you came to me in the night
When the dawn seemed forever lost
You showed me your love in the light of the stars

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me

Then the mountain rose before me
By the deep well of desire
From the fountain of forgiveness
Beyond the ice and fire

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me

Though we share this humble path, alone
How fragile is the heart
Oh give these clay feet wings to fly
To touch the face of the stars

Breathe life into this feeble heart
Lift this mortal veil of fear
Take these crumbled hopes, etched with tears
We'll rise above these earthly cares

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me...

Words and music by Loreena McKennitt, from Book of Secrets (2004)

For some reason, people around here (at a LYS I frequent for example) get her mixed up with Enya. If you haven't heard her before she's worth checking out, especially her last three studio albums.