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Burial

Hermitage Castle, Scotland, claimed by Elliotts as ours. Photo by David P. Elliot

there be bogles*
where she shivers
inside stone

ears scratch
in the night
for sounds

feet scrape
on rough rock
escape an impossible
longing ache

bean nighe* wails
scrubs blood
from tattered grave clothes

whiskey runs
in the burn* by the road
leave the wine alone

*”bogle” Scots term for ghost; “bean nighe” in Scots legend, announcer of death (anglicized from Irish as banshee); “burn” stream or small river

Burn by the road, Hermitage Water, photo by Sharon Elliott

4 Replies

wander to a river

find a willing giver

bison hair and eye of toad

covered o’er with dye of woad

wrapped withal in cloth of red

hidden neath a narrow bed

enflame a heart

that failed to start

overcome a misconception

impart clear angle of reflection

2 Replies

(for Hannah)

she has forgotten how to fly
sky walker
wings clipped
trail extinguished
by deception too deep
harsh
menacing

cool stars
have become her tears
her jewelry
night brings
some respite
from scrutiny of
a sun so hot
it burns flesh and bone

it is time
to rise again
spread wings
golden with possibility
take to the air
soar
rest on the wind

observe
from the safety
of a mountaintop
before
spending her precious
heat
in an unworthy embrace