I.
An icy North Wind sailing
on green and purple seas
whips and mauls the land.
The frozen peaks
of the Anatolian Mountains
tower in the distance
and the Moor is howling
in the Devil's Sea.
Brave warriors of five and six
shelter in hushed classrooms
until the battered day is done.
When the school bell rings
muddy boots and ties undone
pour silently into lanes and streets.
St Michael with a gleaming sword
stands on the spire of his church so high
his head is resting at the feet of God.
The graveyard with its crumbling steps
and the whispers of the lipless dead
is surely the gate to the World of Nether.
Shades linger in its darkness searching
for a child's body and a demijohn of blood.
I fall into my grandpa's arms, he bolts
the door against the anger of the wind
and banishes the whispers of the skulls.
II. Late at night sitting on his knee by the fireside
I listen to him spin the yarn of the Pirates and the Moor:
Once so long ago
on a darksome night
ships came draped in black
with blacker flags
of bones and skulls.
Blood dripping scimitars
and demons poured
from their bowels of hell
folk locked their doors prayed to the Lord for mercy and prepared to die.
In the storm-tossed night, I hear howls and screams I see shadows fighting on the walls and the room is filled with the pungent smell of burning flesh.
Craving virgin flesh the fearsome Moor has come to rape and pillage.
Men and women lie in pools of blood and girls and boys
are dragged wailing
to open fields and darkened barns.
Brimstone and fire
and avenging angels
pour down from
the burning skies.
In a flash of white fury our Guardian Angel
brings down his scythe onto the Arab's neck and hurls his writhing body far into the Devil's Sea. III.
A pale sun rises in the morning sky. Ploughmen are out in the fields once more and shepherds are climbing up to the hills again. Fishermen sit by the quay chewing tobacco, they smoke roll-ups and tell stories of the ones who drowned and of the perils of the sea.
The voices of the dead are silent. The Anatolian Mountains have melted
in the distance and the Moor whimpers
once again in the Devil's Sea. A few words about the poem…
Winter Tales from the Cyprus Poems: A Journey Through Memory, Myth, and the Power of Storytelling
The coming-of-age poem "Winter Tales," part of the collection Cyprus Poems, is a haunting meditation on childhood, family, and the enduring magic of storytelling. Its layered narrative intertwines the innocence of youthful imagination with the gravity of ancestral myths, creating a tapestry of reflection, nostalgia, and cultural inheritance. Through its vivid imagery, emotive language, and compelling interplay between past and present, the poem reveals its themes of wonder, fear, and resilience in the face of the unknown.
The structure of "Winter Tales" is divided into three distinct movements, each representing a progression in mood and meaning. The first establishes a stark, wintry setting that mirrors the inner tension of the narrator's young self, a boy grappling with the interplay of fascination and fear. The second movement invites readers into the fantastical realm of storytelling, where the voice of the boy’s grandfather spins a tale of pirates, Moorish invaders, and divine retribution. The third movement returns to a quiet, reflective dawn, where the echoes of the night’s tales linger softly but persistently, shaping the narrator’s understanding of the world.
The Wintry Setting and the Inner World of the Child
The opening lines of "Winter Tales" evoke a chilling landscape, where the "icy North Wind sailing / on green and purple seas" assaults the land. These descriptions do more than paint a seasonal backdrop; they establish a world of contrasts, where the beauty of the natural world collides with its inherent violence. The imagery of the Anatolian Mountains, "frozen peaks towering in the distance," creates a physical and symbolic horizon—unreachable, mysterious, and filled with both allure and foreboding.
For the young narrator, the winter represents more than just weather. The land’s barrenness and the wind’s rage mirror the uncertainties of childhood, a time when the imagination is at its most fertile and the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur. In this world, St Michael, his sword gleaming, becomes a distant protector, a figure who bridges the divine and the earthly. The graveyard’s crumbling steps and the "whispers of the lipless dead" contrast sharply with this celestial guardian, adding a layer of macabre fascination that fuels the boy’s vivid inner life.
Storytelling as a Shield and Portal
As the wind’s fury drives the narrator into his grandfather’s arms, the poem transitions from the outer landscape to the intimate space of hearth and home. This shift marks the beginning of the second movement, where the act of storytelling assumes centre stage. The grandfather’s voice, rendered in evocative detail, brings to life tales of pirate ships, blood-drenched scimitars, and the dreaded Moor who preys upon the innocent.
The grandfather’s tale operates on multiple levels. For the boy, it is an escape, a way to make sense of the primal fears stirred by the storm and the eerie whispers outside. The story’s vividness, from "ships draped in black / with blacker flags of bones and skulls" to the "smell of burning flesh," transforms the boy’s immediate surroundings into a theatre of the imagination. Shadows on the walls become combatants; the howling wind becomes the cries of marauders.
At the same time, the tale serves as a bridge between generations, linking the boy to his ancestors' struggles and triumphs. Through the grandfather’s words, the boy encounters a version of history where good triumphs over evil, where "avenging angels pour down / from the burning skies," and where the "Guardian Angel" wields a scythe to banish the Moor’s darkness. Yet, even as the tale offers comfort, its underlying violence and tension resonate with the complexities of human existence, hinting at the fragile balance between innocence and experience.
A Quiet Dawn: The Aftermath of Tales
The poem’s third movement shifts to the calm after the storm. The rising sun illuminates a world renewed yet unchanged, where life resumes its rhythms as ploughmen and shepherds return to their tasks. The imagery of fishermen chewing tobacco and telling tales of their own underscores the continuity of storytelling as a human tradition.
Yet, the final lines carry a subtle ambivalence. The voices of the dead have quieted, and the Anatolian Mountains have "melted in the distance," but the Moor’s whimpering in the Devil’s Sea lingers. This unresolved note reminds readers that the fears and wonders of childhood do not entirely fade; they become part of the fabric of identity, shaping how we perceive the world and navigate its uncertainties.
Themes of Memory, Myth, and Protection
At its heart, "Winter Tales" explores the interplay between memory and myth. The boy’s recollection of his grandfather’s stories becomes a lens through which he understands his place in the world. The poem also examines the protective power of storytelling. The grandfather’s narratives shield the boy from the immediate terrors of the storm, yet they also expose him to the darker truths of life—violence, mortality, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.
The poem’s structure mirrors the journey of a child navigating the thresholds of understanding. From the fear-laden landscape of the opening lines to the imagined heroics of the middle section and the quiet reflection of the closing stanza, "Winter Tales" encapsulates the essence of coming-of-age, where innocence is tempered by knowledge, and wonder persists despite the shadows it reveals.
Analysis of the Themes in the Poem
The primary theme of "Winter Tales" is the transformative power of storytelling, particularly as a means of navigating childhood’s fears and fascinations. Through the act of storytelling, the grandfather provides not only entertainment but also a moral framework for understanding the world.
The poem also delves into the theme of generational connection. The grandfather’s tales are a cultural inheritance, linking the boy to a shared history of struggle, resilience, and moral clarity. This intergenerational bond highlights the role of family in shaping identity and imparting wisdom.
Finally, the theme of coming-of-age is central to the poem. The narrator’s journey from fear to fascination to reflection mirrors the broader human experience of growth and self-discovery.
Analysis of the Verse
"Winter Tales" employs a free-verse structure that mirrors the fluidity of memory and imagination. The poem’s three-part division creates a sense of progression, with each section offering a distinct mood and narrative focus.
The language is vivid yet accessible, capturing the immediacy of the boy’s experiences while allowing space for the reader’s interpretation. The use of repetition, particularly in the grandfather’s dialogue, reinforces the oral tradition of storytelling and its rhythmic, almost hypnotic quality.
Analysis of the Symbolism
The poem’s symbolism is rich and multifaceted. The icy North Wind and the Anatolian Mountains represent both external challenges and internal fears, while the graveyard and its lipless dead serve as metaphors for mortality and the unknown.
The Moor, a figure of menace and desire, embodies the external threats faced by the community, as well as the internal struggles of the human psyche. The Guardian Angel’s intervention symbolises the enduring hope for divine protection and moral justice.
Main Poetic Imagery
The imagery in "Winter Tales" is striking and evocative. From the "icy North Wind sailing / on green and purple seas" to the "smell of burning flesh," the poem engages all the senses, creating a vivid, immersive experience. The contrast between the beauty of the natural world and the violence of the grandfather’s tales underscores the dualities of life—safety and danger, innocence and experience, memory and myth.
Religious Symbolism Impact
Religious symbolism plays a subtle yet significant role in "Winter Tales." St Michael, with his gleaming sword, represents divine protection, while the Guardian Angel’s intervention in the grandfather’s tale underscores the moral and spiritual dimensions of the narrative.
The Moor’s depiction as a demonic figure reflects the community’s historical and cultural fears, while the "whispers of the lipless dead" evoke notions of purgatory and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Through these elements, the poem invites readers to reflect on the interplay of faith, fear, and resilience in shaping human experience.
"Winter Tales," with its rich imagery, layered narrative, and universal themes, stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling. As part of the collection "Cyprus Poems," it contributes to the broader tapestry of Cyprus Poetry, celebrating the intersections of memory, myth, and cultural heritage. This coming-of-age poem invites readers to revisit their own childhood wonder, while reminding them of the timeless narratives that connect us all.
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