Vines sprout from nostrils,
spread over face to mouth
to ears—the Green Man hears
the call of all that moves.

He is master, mentor, monster
wreathed in ivy and bathed in rose
as his voice echoes throughout
the wooded lands. Listen carefully,

you rocky shores, you barren hills—
the Green Man comes to prophesy
and fulfill. The dreams of men will
bloom and grow, entering the world

wrapped in leaves. Armed with thistles,
bugles and brambles, he casts his emerald
voice upon the wind. The willows bow,
the boulders tremble; in fear,

the deserts retreat, leaving whitewashed
skin and bones to rattle, crude drums
heralding the presence of the Man
reawakened in green divinity.


*this is my take on the legend of the Green Man
and his eventual inclusion in Northern European
Christian iconography and mythology.
you can read more about him here (though i don't normally
like Wikipedia because of it's lax editing policies, this article is
actually pretty comprehensive and well-written):

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Man

Chris..you frequently manage to tackle unusual subject manner in a way that is compelling. That is certainly the case here.

It reads almost like a gothic version of a psalm, and that really bolsters the theme. No edits to suggest here. Well written.

thanks H. i have been fascinated with mythology for quite some time, especially that which was incorporated into the early Christian church. the marriage of pagan and early Christian beliefs was one of the more successful aspects of conquest in the Dark and Middle Ages; it's amazing that some of that has survived to this day, even though it may be subtle or even completely ignored. i'm grateful for the feedback, as always.