The Amber Seekers


From far most east we seek
rare red amber of the sun
sacred amber, most precious
hauled by trade route pilgrims
through spired and wailing cities
hawked in kif-dens by vagabonds
where dreamers lie in the smoke of oblivion

bartered in golden silk bazaars
amber necklets to protect our children
amulets of amber we carry home
to lie in barrow by bard and druid
freshly buried for their Otherworld

we left behind only fragments
wroughted silver brooches
bronze shields buried below the earth
whimsical scraps of poetry
swords of chieftains fallen
to raw and bloody battle

and in the deathly pall that lingers after war
rows of those of our enemy's heads
mounted on poles in sacrifice

and great Bran's head never at rest
respectfully moved from place to place
'til final burial in the White Hill
his last insistent request

you know our rights of fertility
surrender to the greening spring
our kinship with fire
as winter season closes in
and the great flood
that drove us far from place
and our fear, always our fear
the sky would fall in on us

reluctant wayfarers, moving
always to a different place
longing for a land unseen
unknown, but in our hearts

our Land of Everlasting Youth
a place to lay our swords in peace
and so we follow a restless yearning
forever seeking new territory
new home - always a new place




Pamela Sidney 1998