To the memory of Edith Sodergran, Raivola, Finland now the Soviet Republic of Russia

There is a castle hidden far away on midnight air,
a bronze box full of secrets . . .
tarnished silver star on its top, amid
calm blue seas of azure silk, beyond the faire glen.

Where ghostly spirits of earth and water
live with gently breathing, dancing . . .
light angels bearing strange secret smells, look
inside their eyelids at coal black widow's weeds
carrying silken folds of ebony death and gray grief
rustling along whispered white light hallways
where memories travel slow.

Luminous sister, draw me close to your spirit world
slip through ice castles melting, heroine, wild woman
soul of violets, eyes of knowing, serene face,
soaring spirit and breaking words,
you are the most unknown yet the deepest blue,
hyacinth, tiger rose, fearless one.

The author gratefully acknowledges the editors of the following books, in which this poem appeared. The Flowering Pen Literary Services Online Poetry Web, International Poet's Association, Celtic Knot Publishing, Patchwork Press, an imprint of Tenacity Press