In the field there danced three witches
no bones nor flesh just willow switches,
holding hands they whirled around
though their feet never left the ground,
while all who watched were filled with glee
laughing at their transparency
nothing to worry us here they said
one good fire and the witch is dead.
Filed under Comic verse, Inspired by fable, Old knowledge, Self compositions, Whimsical
O’er hill and dale, from forests green
came fairies , elves, denizens of dreams
for as was the custom in this land
a choice was made to claim the hand
in marriage, of the beautiful Trixie,
daughter of the King of the pixies
From northern lands came Knghts and Lords,
prepared to tourney with lance and sword
against magicians, heroes, clerics,
from foreign realms both Sheikhs and mystics
with gilded swords, scimitars, gifts of gold
eager to claim a prize foretold
in legends and old long-told fables
or just to dine at the sumptuous tables.
“Oh no, not again, Mum, mum there’s something wrong with me,”
”What’s wrong Billy,” said his mother with a smile, “and why do you keep on going to that little tree and standing in front of it?”
”Well you remember when I was three, you stood me up to it and made that mark where my head was?”
”Yeeess, why, did it bother you?”
”Well you told me that that would be half my height I’d be when I grow up.”
”That’s right dear, that’s what they say. Why do you keep on checking it?”
”Well, mum, I’m getting smaller and smaller. I was a lot taller then, I’m never going to reach twice the height that mark is now.
Filed under As you read it, Inspired by fable, Self compositions, Short story, Whimsical
When Humpty Dumpty
waved at a passing tinker
a tumble ensued.
Filed under Comic verse, Haiku, Inspired by fable, Self compositions, Whimsical
As green shoots appear
in the springing of the year
Gaia is reborn
Filed under As you read it, faith, Haiku, Inspired by fable, Old knowledge, Seasons, Self compositions
And God looked down from on high at the gathering below. She smiled in order to put them at their ease, for arrayed in a circle below was a representative from all the nations of the Earth. Chosen at random and summoned while in an enchanted state, none had a recollection of how they had come to be here or why they had been so chosen. God enfolded them in her arms and in soft tones began to speak. Speaking in tongues so that all the gathering were able to understand the message she imparted. To emphasise her imparted warning a loud rumbling began to emanate from the very bowels of the Earth and the earth opened giving all assembled a glimpse of the infernal future for the planet. A certainty if these messengers were unable to convince their fellow countrymen throughout the world of the necessity for change. God released the people from their spell to return and begin their work. It was now dependant upon the inhabitants of the planet if they wished to avoid the second great flood. A flood of fire of their own making.
His laughter was as the echo
of a thousand crows
lined in serried ranks
upon the branches
of a hundred graceful pines,
each silent, standing sentinel
over the boundless plains.
I realised my folly
for had I not stroked
the curving brazen contours
and in one foul stroke, released
the fabled genie of the lamp
“Tell me Bottom, which colour would you like to wear?”
We stood up on the cliff looking down at the scene of destruction below. The gale force wind so strong that we could hardly stand. Waves crashed over the bow of the stricken vessel. We could not keep our torches alight unless we lay upon the ground sheltering them from the driving rain with our curled bodies. The cries from below sounded English but there were also high-pitched screams in a language I couldn’t identify. Daniel beside me had toshout to make himself hard, “I s’pect tis them Frenchies they’ve been tellin about, poor buggers.” I only nodded in agreement. There was nothing we could do till the sea and wind settled. Then we would go down to the beach to see if anyone had got off to the shore. All we could was sit and wait.
At first light the wind had lessened. There was no sound. Fearing the worst we climbed down the fisherman’s path to the shingle beach. The ship had completely broken up overnight. There were rough, broken planks of timber, chests and casks scattered among the rocks. Much more numerous were the bodies. Some lying face down, arms outstretched as if scrabbling at the sand. Some face up, their faces white, fixed in fear, eyes dull and lifeless. The worst sight were a group of both men and women lying like rag dolls close to a cave entrance.
Going over to examine them we were stopped in our tracks at the sight. All were wearing leg-irons and neck-braces chained one to each other. It was obvious, they were slaves being transported to the colonies. The sailors hadn’t even freed them at the time of the wreck in order that they might have a chance of escape.
I believe it was that one act that turned us against our sea-faring brothers. Without a word being spoken the vow never again to help them was taken. Not only that, our loathing at their cowardice was so high that we were encouraged to start the act of wrecking and thus gaining benefit from their distress. Much to my shame I can safely say that was how and why our terrible, callous and cowardly acts of piracy started.
Five young gunslingers from Tooting
fed up with the hollering and hooting
so with nothing to lose
but their necks in a noose
should either fight their way out or die shooting
Filed under Alternative history, Factual, Inspired by fable, Self compositions, Whimsical
