Paris and Helen by JUDY GRAHN

Paris and Helen

BY JUDY GRAHN

He called her:  golden dawn

She called him:  the wind whistles

He called her:  heart of the sky

She called him:  message bringer

He called her:  mother of pearl

           barley woman, rice provider,

           millet basket, corn maid,

           flax princess, all-maker, weef

She called him:  fawn, roebuck,

           stag, courage, thunderman,

           all-in-green, mountain strider

           keeper of forests, my-love-rides

He called her:  the tree is

She called him:  bird dancing

He called her:  who stands,

           has stood, will always stand

She called him:  arriver

He called her:  the heart and the womb

           are similar

She called him:  arrow in my heart.

Judy Grahn, “Paris and Helen” from love belongs to those who do the feeling: New & Selected Poems (1966-2006). Copyright © 2008 by Judy Grahn. Reprinted by permission of Red Hen Press.

Source: love belongs to those who do the feeling: New & Selected Poems (1966-2006). (Red Hen Press, 2008)