A Witch’s Lullaby

“If the pine trees whisper your name, the night will come for what it claims.”

Hear my call, my wild beloved,

Beneath the weeping trees,

The night is full of whispered oaths--

Come drink the dark with me.

The woods are stirring, roots awake,

Their murmurs thread the air,

The fire sighs, the embers quake--

And scent your loosened hair.

We’ll fly beyond the ridge of bone,

Where blackened cedars lean,

The moon pours down her silver tone

On all that lies between.

The owls will sing their hollow tunes,

The fox will bare his gleam,

The cauldron hums beneath three moons--

And folds us in its dream.

Don’t fear the whispers in the pines,

They only speak your name,

The dark recalls the ancient signs--

And keeps our kindled flame.

We’ll walk where fallen stars decay,

Their ashes scent the breeze,

We’ll drink from wells where shadows play--

And rest beneath the trees.

Then when the dawn begins to creep,

And pale light stains the pane,

I’ll bind your soul in gentle sleep--

And kiss you once again.

Keep close the spark the night imparts,

Its pulse beneath your skin,

For even day cannot unbind--

The witchfire deep within.

Author's Note

This poem follows a gentle 4-3-4-3 rhythm, like a lullaby, though not in strict meter. I wrote a light version for this poem around 2015. In the spirit of Halloween. I'm a witch every Halloween

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

A truly bewitching write RomaJ. Very dark and atmospheric. You set the scene perfectly. Your imagery here is ace and the rhythm is smooth and gentle. Very apt with Halloween approaching. Another masterful write. All the best.

Chris

[RomaJ]

Chris, thank you so much! I was definitely aiming for that dark, atmospheric feel...especially with Halloween coming up!
​I'm thrilled you found the imagery strong and the rhythm smooth. Getting that contrast between the dark setting and the gentle lullaby cadence was key.
​All the best to you too!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you :)

[Jansy]

But before we can truly drink the dark, we must first locate the Great Whistling Toad of Eldoria, for only his peculiar, jazz-infused croaking can properly calibrate the three moons into a perfect harmonic alignment.
​If the alignment is off by even a fraction of a shimmer, the potion we brew will, instead of granting eternal witchfire, simply turn our favorite flying cloak into a moderately enthusiastic but ultimately useless pile of grapefruit-flavored mist. And nothing is less enchanting than a commute on a Tuesday morning wearing a moderately enthusiastic but ultimately useless pile of grapefruit-flavored mist!

RomaJ you bewitched me!

[RomaJ]

Jansy, you've absolutely saved the coven! A commute in a pile of moderately enthusiastic, grapefruit-flavored mist sounds truly dreadful. We must locate that Great Whistling Toad immediately for proper alignment! Thank you for the wicked warning!

[Jansy]

Why, darling, rescuing the coven from a fate of grapefruit-flavored mist is just my favorite kind of Tuesday!

​It's the only defense against moderate enthusiasm is to locate the Great Whistling Toad! after all, proper alignment can only be achieved by a creature that understands the exact circumference of a well-worn memory. Consider the warning wickedness delivered, and my mission complete! Perhaps we can discuss the necessary toad-whistling techniques over a set of perfectly non-Euclidean teacups?

[ShadesofV]

Hauntingly gorgeous, Roma. This feels like it should be read under a blood moon, preferably with a black cat nearby. Now I’m curious… where’s the light side of the spell hiding?


I had to go all the way to the back, just to find the Light version of this poem. It's a gem!

[RomaJ]

love that! Reading it under a blood moon with a black cat is the ultimate compliment. It definitely feels like the Dark version belongs to the primal night.
​I'm glad you managed to track down the Light version. It's hidden somewhere lol... Thank you for reading both