272/365: Long live the Green Man!

The Green Man

The Green Man’s a traveller, a reveller, unraveller
Of dreams and of fancies, from first to the last.
Older than all men, living in all things
Son, father and sage,
Long live the Green Man!
 
First light of first morning saw the Green Man there waiting
He saw the creation and joined in the dance
All creatures grew ’round him, he grew with them singing
The first song of all, sing of the Green Man

Quietly watching and waiting and learning
The storms are his fury, the lightning his laugh
The first leaf of spring, his beauty and glory
His stillness his power, in the trees is his path.
 
There are fewer trees now, but the man is not sleeping
‘Though our ruin brings sorrow to time’s oldest heart
In our souls we may find him and remember his wisdom
And rekindle the flame; once again make a start.

John Thompson


I love everything to do with the Green Man, in both art and literature, so this was a very special holiday gift from Norm. He's very little and sweet and reminds me of Robert Powell in Jesus of Nazareth (my new Green Man, not Norm!). I really like this poem too.

Thanks for the nice surprise Norm x