As darkness settled slowly on the land

A ghostly moon arose in ashen white

And blackness deep no haloed light could stand,

Encircled flames that flickered in the night.

‘Round crackling fires did purple umbras creep

And chilled the spines of those around the blaze,

So haunting souls—disturbed within their keep

As tongues of orange and red lapped up their gaze;

The druids bowed and bade the wicker man

Be trussed and thrown upon the raging pyre,

Though none were ever certain of his crime,

Their chants rose up as human screams expired;

And shadows danced convulsing on the ground—

‘Til burning coals released that spirit bound.