May 28, 2015

• Watching Gryffins

  Gryffin of the hooked beak
  Designed to guard the divine
  To tear the flesh of the infidel
  Gryffin of the hooked talons
  Used to hold fast to the precious
  Prevent theft of the most valued
  Gryffin of the hooked tail
  A query held poised at the end
  Of a powerful statement
  I wonder if I am my own Gryffin
  Wondrously imagined
  Terrifyingly wrought
  Marvelous in ability
  Tenacious in ferocity
  If only I could fly

  This is for the May 2015 Scavenger Hunt using the prompts "gryffin" and "hook" in a poem. I wasn't sure what a gryffin was so I googled it. Naturally there are a many definitions and descriptions mythical beasts bearing the name griffin, griffon, gryphon, gryffin, etc. There are almost as many spellings as descriptions. They all have a couple items in common.
  1. the body is that of a lion
  2. the head is that of an eagle
  3. there is a tail
  4. there are talons
  5. it eats things like people
  According to the Wiki article the gryffin is a guardian of the divine, thought of as king of all creatures, and known for guarding treasure and priceless possessions. Gryffins not only mated for life, but if either partner died, then the other would continue the rest of its life alone, never to search for a new mate. The gryffin is considered "a protector from evil, witchcraft and secret slander". The gryffin, being a union of a terrestrial beast and an aerial bird, was also seen in medieval era of Christendom to be a symbol of Jesus (who was both human and divine) because it melds the lion (earthly) with the eagle (heavenly). Although it is a mythological creature, I posit that we all need a personal and possibly internal gryffin to guard that most sacred part of our hearts and souls. To guide, to provide protection from all evils, to be an encouragement to become steadfast and devoted in our relationships. Yep. Pretty sure I'd welcome a fierce defender. And if I could be carried on the wind all the better!!

  • 6:02 am
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