Image by Mrs Magic via Flickr
a taste of earth
before time
in the realm of golden crow
and swan
sun and pearl moon conjoined
begetting earth.
from distant mountain heights
a goddess and her sisters watched
and saw that it was very, very good.
thus to the land they leapt
drawn by sweet smell of soil
drawn into earth’s desire
within her hands Au Co,
the youngest of the brood,
cradled damp pungent clay
held it against her cheek
then tasted.
and so weighed down
by sand (or guilt)
no longer fit for flight
she wept upon the loam
held back now from her home
heaven of pure form
she cried her tears of loss
earth-bound goddess now
those tears became the rivers
flowing to the seas
spreading floral beauty to the shores
gracing oceans deep with her sweet water.
then from the depths emerged
a dragon prince who sought
this source of pure abundance
and thus it is that we are born
part dragon of the shadowy deep
part goddess of the mountain peak.
Based on the Vietnamese myth of the goddess Au Co.
Linked to dVerse Poets’ Pub Open Link Night at http://dversepoets.com/ Come on and belly up to the bar, have a shot and enjoy some inspiring poetry.
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 
Wonderful write!
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Lovely story. Beautifully written poem. I like the idea of being “part shadowy deep” and “part mountain peak.” Balance.
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Love the mythology, and your words flow like the rivers.
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your words make us think,
well done.
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What a beautiful lyrical poem!
Wasn’t familiar with the mythology, but how beautiful.
Thank you, for bringing this to us.
Lady Nyo
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Oops– I meant to say “in” these words… 🙂
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I was drawn in by this story…and before I knew it was a myth, I wondered… beautiful piece, I could spend a lot of time of these words.
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I hadn’t heard of this myth either–there’s so many, from so many cultures–but your poem on it is just beautiful, Victoria. And a happy ending too.
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spreading floral beauty to the shores , like this line. this was a lovely poem and the pictures spoke your words perfectly.
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Nice Myth!! I enjoyed this! thank you.
the visuals given me (the reader) are virginal and mellifluous – pure & lyrical.
I like especially the metaphor of tasting the clay & hence becoming mortal.
nice, very nice piece. thanks for posting for reading.
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First of all I did not know anything about Au Co so thanks for teaching me about the myth. It was interesting to read about it.
Powerful words explaining the tail of how tears become rivers. Lovely poem, very enjoyable.
Thanks for sharing 😉
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Hehe I cannot believe I wrote TAIL instead of TALE.
Well is’s nice to read the poem and the comments again. 😉
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Didn’t even notice. Shows how we see what we expect to see!
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I so much admire the way you have woven this myth into a wonderful story poem – totally beyond me! Your poem should definitely win a competition or otherwise be published, so that more people can read it.
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so mystical and beautifully woven…need to check out the link…didn’t know the story but love your poem victoria
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Ah, a new creation myth – new to me anyway, and written artfully, in a new way. I like the idea of being part dragon, part goddess, and (in time, hopefully) equally proud of both heritages…
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loved this Victoria ~ what a lovely myth of au co enjoyed reading that too not heard before .. faery I love 🙂 and the dragon ~ like minds
‘and thus it is that we are born
part dragon of the shadowy deep
part goddess of the mountain peak’.
you know I thought so too ~ 🙂
so lovely ~
ty Victoria for visiting and lovely comment
and also for sharing your lovely piece and legend
so enjoyed
Lib x
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thus to the land they leapt
drawn by sweet smell of soil
drawn into earth’s desire
and that last verse is marvelous, such a rich feast. I am looking forward to the Wednesday prompt. I like what Steven said about the ritual, it feels steeped in your beautiful language but it’s almost an incantation, wonderful!
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Amazing piece!
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Love the unexpectedness of the final twist.
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such a wonderful poem and I love other cultures so much. My Grandfather was Indian, I love the Tahitian culture and it is such a joy to read of different cultures and such a pleasure to read this
http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/10/18/farewell-my-three-legged-friend/
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On the CD where I learned about Au-Co, the next story was about White Buffalo Woman. Another one I love.
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very versatile with great choice of words- great style of your own liv.. tq for coming by..
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Lovely poem and a true treat to learn of other cultures…….
If I should be part dragon, though,
my heart would not avail.
Lo on these wings of glory rise
the depths of my own hell……
For on that mountain top I’d perch
and wait for my lady fair.
But it’s sure that my fiery breath
would only singe her lovely hair.
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John, what a terrific response poem. Thank yu so much for sharing.
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I liked it, and then you said it was based on a myth, and I was disappointed, because I was hoping that the story was yours. 😦
Maybe you can come up with your own myth and write a poem, or maybe….maybe….there can be a monday myth-day or mythday monday?? 🙂
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We all live our own myths, don’t we, Bat-Ami? I like the idea of mythday monday…that might have to turn into a prompt. Start writing, girl!
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This is wonderful story-telling. Especially loved that last stanza 🙂
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From sadness, abundance.
Whimsical and heartwarming, nicely told in verse.
Cheers!
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wow victoria…this is a beautiful rendering of that tale…i was vaguely familiar with it before but you bring it to vivid life in your verse….
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Interesting…based on a Vietnamese myth you say? I’m not familiar, but certainly intrigued. Dare I say it? Wikipedia, here I come!
As for the work itself: a beautiful tale, both warm and natural. Always fascinated by myths as such…
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The Wikipedia version is a bit different from the one I used, which I learned in a course presented on CD by The Teaching Company–they have wonderful offerings in all subjects. I like to listen to them when I exercise…it eases the misery. :0)
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I love hearing this. So beautiful, creative, one almost sees it figuratively embroidered on a silk screen,going down into depths of dimensions as old as any stories told by firelight. Excellent.
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Deep and earthy. Something sublime to warm up an autumn night.
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Deep and earthy. Something sublime to warm up an autumn night:)
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Lvoe the mythic nature woven in and such a storied tale you weave, enjoyed the read here at your feed.
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Lovely, lovely write. Wonderful how you weaved myth into being so well. Enjoyed it very much!
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I love those final lines ~ ‘and thus it is that we are born
part dragon of the shadowy deep
part goddess of the mountain peak.’ ~ lovely, mythical piece.
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I am an earth bound goddess, so I can relate 😉 Wonderful word weaving! Love the myth, the imagery, bravo!
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Very nicely told. I love myth and eventually I would like to make my way to the Asian folklore. Have a ways to go yet but one day. Your piece though certainly makes me want to perhaps skip the next book in my to-do list, which is the folklore of Italy. Great job, I really enjoyed the read. Thanks
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What quiet and powerful verse. It reads like ritual.
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A lovely interpretation of this story– mythic and eloquent! xxxxj http://parolavivace.blogspot.com .
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Lovely piece!
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a deep and creative piece.
very enjoyable read.
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