Spring Meaning

poetry, history, and hope

Apollo’s Hermes

Scrawled in Spring
I found “Veritas”
written on the heels
of new wings

I wrote this poem a couple of years ago. Well, my thumbs typed it up. I correct myself because “I wrote” connotes a relationship the poem and I did not and do not have. It is one of those poems I didn’t even sit down to unload, let alone tango with. Rather, she popped into my noggin’ via divine muse and my mind guided my body to deliver it unto the physical realm.

Not a piece of writing I feel the authority to edit, even.

Sometimes the creative process is extremely personal, perhaps deeply laborious, or spiritually ritualistic, fundamentally collaborative, or intimately designed. Other times it is to just be the vessel. To hold space for creations to be born and to honor them with a place to exist.

Apollo’s Hermes.

It is a poem I have decided to add to the first draft of my book of poetry; I have been raking through all sorts of old goodies to plop into this project. My manuscript is currently 76 pages and I aim for it to be at 200 before I start hacking away violently with a critical eye.

When I filed this poem into my draft it needed a title, that I did write. I threw the bait out into the waters of my subconscious, and pooling from all my education and interests a title rose to the surface in no time. Apollo’s Hermes. Hermes, the Greek messenger god, the protector of heralds, with wings on his sandals! Able to move quickly and freely between the divine and mortal planes, an allegory of movement, coming from a period (greecian) that precedes that of the message being carried (veritas, roman). By labeling this message (alternatively, the wind under the wings of the message) as though it is from a future empire’s philosophy I suggest that the destination is to come. I love that fertile energy of potential; it suits the feeling of the poem.

Apollo, the god of healing. The only god with the same name in both the Greek and Roman pantheons. The creator of this message, as it were, existing in the then and the now and the to-be. The always. A message coming from always, from he who heals and rules over poetry and prophecy.

This message, veritas, of roman origin. Truth, the daughter of Saturn, who rules agriculture. Saturn taught the Romans how to farm grapes and encouraged resolving differences through discussion. Saturn is linked to wealth and war and has two wives to represent these two sides: Ops the goddess of plenty, and Lua the goddess of destruction. The type of wealth Saturn looks over is from that of which we sow and work to grow, the type of war is from that of dissolution. His wife, Lua, would receive tributes from soldiers of their bloody, captured weapons. To honor her one gives up the tools an enemy used to cross the ultimate boundary– an artery. Perhaps the warring side of Saturn is not where one wants to find themselves. The mythology helps to navigate how to avoid this type of destruction. When I think of Saturn I think of order, law, boundaries. These are the ways in which Saturn has helped humankind achieve success in his areas of expertise; through organization, hard work, and fairness. It is important to note this while developing a framework from which to see the specificity of what kind of truth veritas speaks to. Rather than notions of unconcealment, this truth is born of order. Arguably, an order that is decided upon based on what best serves an individual’s right to assert their individuality and uniqueness.

Apollo’s Hermes

Scrawled in Spring
I found “Veritas”
written on the heels
of new wings

Veritas. Truth. A truth born of rational order which found its shape in an effort to support the growth of inherent uniqueness. This meaning, scrawled by a season– a spell of cyclical time! Spring, reliably marking renewal and growth! Veritas. The daughter of Saturn and mother of Virtus. Virtus, aka virtue. Associated with courage, character, and worth.

Oh! How this poem engages and titillates me, gives me hope and reminds me that there is always a chance for redemption. The rhythms of the universe will always bring it ‘round. I feel it again in the air this year, the active use of what is behind us to give us new wings! Wings that lift up the most vulnerable parts of ourselves in abundant, personal truth! A truth so clear it births a life of courageous integrity, a being plentiful in self-worth.

This feeling, this newness, this forward motion in veritas is always available to us. Sometimes we lose sight of it but it will always be there again, ready to be found when we are ready to discover.

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As our Skinless Grape space continues to develop, I very much treasure your feedback. In the recent weeks I have published some original video art, poetry, research, recent life stories, and stories of old. Hitting that heart when you dig something or commenting on elements you’re particularly into will help me suss out what my treasured readers are most enjoying. That way I can build this space with you. Rather than for myself with you in mind!