At its core, this poem is a mythic, symbolic celebration of renewal, using Glastonbury Tor as a sacred focal point and the Goddess as a personification of Spring, rebirth, and spiritual cleansing.
The Goddess as Spring and Life-Force.
The “Goddess” represents:
Spring itself.
The Great Mother and life giver. A solar, regenerative power that returns after winter.
She is described as:
“Life-giving.”
A “warrior queen”—not ”gentle only, but active, powerful, and transformative.
Bringing warmth, fertility, and light back into the world.
This blends pagan, Celtic, and mythological imagery, common around Glastonbury, which is often associated with ancient goddess worship, Avalon, and ley lines.
Winter vs. Spring = Death vs. Rebirth.
Winter symbolizes:
Darkness.
Stagnation.
Spiritual coldness.
Emotional or inner numbness.
Spring symbolizes:
Renewal.
Awakening.
Cleansing.
Hope and new beginnings.
Lines like:
> “As Winter’s toys go back in his box”
Suggest winter is a temporary force that must step aside once its role is done.
The Vernal Equinox as Sacred Turning Point.
The Vernal Equinox is central:
Day and night are equal—balance is restored.
It marks the true beginning of the new cycle.
Nature “wakes up.”The equinox is personified with:
Robins singing.
Bells ringing.
The cockerel crowing at dawn.
All of these are traditional symbols of awakening and transition.
Purification and Spiritual Fire.
The “Purple Flame” and “molten arrows” represent:
Spiritual purification.
Burning away the residue of winter.(darkness, despair, stagnation)
Divine energy acting like a forge to reshape life.
This implies an inner transformation as much as an outer seasonal one.
Glastonbury Tor as the Sacred Source.
Glastonbury Tor functions as:
A spiritual beacon.
A mythic “heart” from which renewal spreads.
A meeting point between earth, sky, and spirit.
The Goddess’s power radiates outward:
> “Spreading from Glastonbury Tor / To all”
The Call to the Reader.
The poem ends by directly addressing you:
Will you hear the call?
Will you allow yourself to be “purged” and “reborn”?
This makes the poem not just descriptive, but invitational—asking the reader to:
Let go of inner winter.
Embrace renewal.
Begin again.
So here we have it.
A seasonal myth, a spiritual allegory, and a personal invitation to transformation, rooted in ancient symbolism but aimed at modern inner renewal.
Title.
The Goddess from Glastonbury Tor.
(A lone voice whispers)
Can you hear her faintly call / The Goddess now seated at Glastonbury Tor?
Spring / The life-giving goddess of all.
The warrior queen to emerge from / The deep depths of winter's cold.
To rally round the young and old / On the Vernal Equinox / As Winter's toys go back in his box.
And the warm blooming of Spring can begin / As choirs of Robins sing.
With the Goddess and Queen / Sharing her life-giving rays / To all in sight / Day or night.
Summoning forth the Purple Flame / To purge all winter's darkness that remains / All in the Great Creator's name.
Shooting molten arrows from the midday orb / To relight the cycle and the great forge.
In the many sleeping / Awaiting her ringing yellow bells / To break the winter's spell / When dawn's Vernal Equinox cockerel sings.
Welcoming the Goddess / Great Mother / Of all living things.
Awaiting the moment for her / To open her angel wings / So new life can begin.
Spreading from Glastonbury Tor / To all / With her New Year's weapons of war.
Will you hear her faint call / Once more / And purge your soul.
From winter's cold / To be reborn.
With the blowing / Of her Great Golden Bannerman's horn?
(C)
Copyright John Duffy
Image shared under fair usage policy.
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