As darkness settled slowly on the land
A ghostly moon arose in sallowed white
And blackness deep no light could countermand
Encircled flames that flickered in the night.
‘Round crackling fires did purple umbras creep
There chilling spines of those around the blaze,
So haunting souls awakened by 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.
©Loubert S Suddaby. All Rights Reserved.
Loubert S Suddaby poems 