Before All Things, Thanks…

Before getting into the narrative of my PantheaCon 2012 experiences (which will encompass at least six further blog posts, if not more…!?!), I feel it is important to give due thanks to those who are most responsible for making my presence there possible. Of course, the various gods that I represent–chief among them Antinous–make the work that I do there possible, but in fairness, and not at all in any offense to these gods’ greatness, they often provide little or nothing toward the material resources and provisions required to make such a trip possible, at least in my own case. Thus, honoring the humans who make these things possible is, therefore, not only incumbent upon me in thanksgiving, but also a pleasure and a privilege to relate. This debt is largely (though not exclusively) to two individuals: one of whom I am not certain how to address in a public fashion at this point, but the other is someone I’ve known for a while, and who has likewise helped me to attend the last three PantheaCons through her provision of hospitality. This is Disirdottir, and in the past, I’ve said that I would honor her with a praise-poem for having done this. She reminded me (gently!) that I had not yet performed this service, and so I’d like to take the opportunity to do so now. I wrote this poem while I was waiting for the plane to take me from Oakland back to Washington state, and while I would have preferred to do it in a more conducive environment, I’m fairly happy with the results–I hope she is happy with them as well, considering it is meant to be the increase of her fame and glory that should be the results of such a poem! (We shall see on that, I suppose…!)

Laudatio Filiae Belisamae

I sing the praises of fair Belisama’s heir,
beloved daughter and descendent of goddesses
from Gaul to Britannia
and to fine Puget Sound’s shores;

Loyal blessed daughter of the Disir
favored at the shrine of Sequana–
may an eternal offering be received
and renewed regularly on her behalf;

Lauded upholder of Ma’at in Columbia’s land
with a tongue as sharp as Sekhmet’s sword
for the chiding of provocation to action
and the due critique of what falters;

You who are a friend of Óengus Mac ind Óic
and radiant Caer Ibormeith,
favorer of dream-crossed lovers
and enduring in bonds of steadfastness;

Noble messenger of Lugus from his strong fort
in forms known under other names
as far as Etruria or as close
as the words on her lips and poured libations;

Ecstatic reveler in the waters of life
from the lands and isles of Caledonia,
eager sharer of the bounties in spirit
with the people of Thrace and of Hibernia;

Protected one of Gerdh–cherished of Freyr–,
guided by Skadhi on safe pathways
through frost-parched parcels of land
that will bloom under her hand;

Assistant in the imparting of mysteries
for the beautiful boy of Bithynia,
builder of his devotion, pillar of his temple–
may her bread never be seized!

Patroness of poets, giver of debts
positive, eagerly accepted, which cannot be repaid:
may every praise and blessing go with her,
the honored, fair heir of Belisama.