The great bear
roams the night sky - never setting
or finding rest
roams the night sky - never setting
or finding rest
Their are many stories about the great bear, but one fact is that this constellation is always in view whether high or low in the sky. I love the greek myth where Callisto, a virgin huntress falls in love with Zeus, bares his son Arcas, and is turned to a bear by Zeus’ jealous wife Hera. Later, Callisto sees her son and raises her arms to embrace him. Fearing for his life Arcas raises his bow to kill her. Zeus saves her by turning her son into a small bear. He supposedly grabbed them by the tail and hurtled them into the heavens for their protection. Hera for her own triumph set them in the celestial hemisphere where they would wander never setting below the horizon. Other myths link the bear to King Arthur, some say she is Artemis herself. In China, the seven stars of the big dipper that form the bears back is the celestial home of the Lord on High. The star Sirius is the heavenly wolf that guards the palace.
heaven’s watchman
Sirius - guards the bridge
of the gatherer
Sirius - guards the bridge
of the gatherer
The Great Bear roams
the celestial heavens
seeking hibernation
the celestial heavens
seeking hibernation
jealous gods
light the night sky
with fire and imagination
light the night sky
with fire and imagination
A really good presentation - a haibun I learnt from, and which fit so well here. I treally enjoyed your other haibun about snow so much - the snowflake was great! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYour welcome -I also learned a lot from your snowflake haibun.
DeletePS - another challenge..if you'd like http://fly-indie.weebly.com/ligo-haibun/ligo-haibun-challenge-video-week
ReplyDeleteThanks -looking into it. All ready have several ideas.
DeleteWonderful to weave the mythology by the haibun and the haiku.. really wonderful
ReplyDeleteThank you! Glad you enjoyed.
DeleteVery nice series, Delores..
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWonderful to see the mythology and haiku intertwined -- very nice indeed!
ReplyDeleteAlways felt so bad for Zeus's victims .... and for poor Hera, too. Such perpetual heartache!
I have always enjoyed mythology from many countries... alas some so tragic.
DeleteAppreciate the background information you put into this post...middle verse of series is my favorite!
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteFun history. Oh, the playful gods.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a refresher on the stories :)
Lovely look into the mythology of the Bears! Great haiku series.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Glad you enjoyed
Delete