Ambivalence of Lammas

August 1st, 2008

For many people, Lammas is a time of celebration of the first harvests. For me, this time of year is a struggle, especially with the blast furnace heat and/or oppressive humidity of the last three places I’ve lived (Oklahoma, Houston, and DC). In August, I feel like someone forgot to close Balor’s evil eye after Lugh killed him. I’ve also just read The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl, which could also account for my ambivalence toward the season.

Orange 10 of Swords Lugh dies
and the sun strikes
with rays of heat
that oppress in revenge,
with spears of light
that burn our eyes and skin.

First fruits
Red blood

August comes
and the earth gasps
in the death throes of summer,
a fever pitched battle
against the coming dark.

Barlycorn
Eat and run.

Written in August 2006

2 Comments »

  1. elise says

    I like your page here. what day is Lammas this year? I keep forgetting and I’m not so good at keeping up, but I’ll get there eventually.

    August 5th, 2008 | #

  2. Angela says

    Elise,

    Thank you. Lammas is August 1, by the comtemporary pagan calendar.

    August 6th, 2008 | #

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