Innana’s Journey

by Rachael Clyne

One foot on the step
is all it takes to change a life
while the other lingers
in warm ochre dust

A foot on the step
presses stone-chill knowledge
from sole to knee in an instant
of Chinese whispers

That’s all it takes to the Great Below
neither cashmere shawls nor lapis beads
can retain your dignity

Memories of a lover’s kiss
on the mezzanine
cannot warm you
choruses of adulation
will not help you face this one down

Did I say face?
nothing quite prepares you
for the icy blast
of meeting your other half
in the dark mirror
obsidian eyes cut an ego to shreds
less than a maggot
on the flyblown arse of a decaying donkey
all you can do is rot
and pray for release

At last your heart opens to love
that unforgiving bitch of envy and rejection
who you once banished after all
till she reclaimed you
and you crawl back up to the light
thankful only for the grace of breath
your eyes deeper by three miles

“Now you are fit”
she whispers
“to call yourself Queen”

©Rachael Clyne

Rachael draws much of her inspiration from the landscape, from nature and her love for the Goddess. She also uses poetry to express different aspects of the human journey: death and loss, family, relationships. She comments with humour on the challenges of aging. Rachael’s vision can make us laugh, cry, feel anger or joy as the rhythms of her writing awaken our passion. Rachael has been writing and performing poetry for nearly twenty years.

Click on the name for information about Rachael's poetry collection She who walks with stones and sings.

About the book ....
Just sometimes you feel as if some other human being has lived for a while inside your head. Whilst reading this inspiring and liberating collection ... I could see the wild skies; could hear the birds in flight; could watch the women dancing at stone circles; could stand beneath hedgerows after rain, and exchange with the mysteries of silent footsteps ....
Caeia March