Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Random Act


The wind came down
curled itself around
impervious standing stones
swept through wet marshy fields
where strange women dwell
keepers of the power of ancient spell

the wind rose in brief anticipation
where hosts of black birds nest
in a thorny briar to sing, where
startled owls cower full-eyed
portending the end to come

and through the briar, wind glimpsed
the bleached bones of fallen war-lords
fine ribbons of many colours , rusted helmets
lying desolate, visors closed in ritual respect

the curling wind pressed on causing damp to flee
leaving mossy pads of earth exposed to lie
like stepping-stones across the ravaged plain

quickly the sky blackened to crow
with beating breast and rasping craw
filled the crooks of willow's roots
brushed by stone altars carved
by vanished druids long ago

to rest inside the darkened well
where women come to prophesy
to speak in vision for the tribe

where a child now bends
to fetch her water
in a creaky wooden pail

the crows attack, sharp beaks force
drawing blood from the frail pale one
'til all is ripped to slivers of flesh
rent to strips fragmenting
lying like leather drying in the sun

flat black wings rise in flight
leaving behind just strands
of burnished golden hair
lying wasted without meaning
on the blood-soaked clods of earth

on a field that once held sacred power
malevolence dwelt that day
testament to the prescience of air -
the prophesying birds of Bran

did goodness flee when magic ceased
with the power of three times three ?
when druids retreated to their Otherworld ?
when the well became just a quench for thirst ?
when visions vanished with the ancestors's songs ?

so the birds returned to fill the void
chaos reigned, exacting a curious retribution

with rituals gone, memory confused
boundaries unclear, no meaning left
their actions on that dreadful day
had no measure of value
in the foresaken land.



Pamela Sidney 1998


1 comment:

Initially NO said...

For the recluse
Her eye and ear was open
It wished to see something more
Than just a crowd looking in
And giving their own thinking.
It hoped to know something
Which was out there
That could tell
Something more than just what is.
She wanted the love I bring.
And I said: I’m just listening.
Which isn’t true.
For I got something in there
That said she visits what I do.
Yet would never mention it
Or say it, because she knows this
That it would do her no seduce.