Once Upon A Haunting

By Grace and Soul

Cold permeates the shifting shadows
knuckled fingers plucking incessantly
at heart strings, making it tremble
in silent dirge an ultimate coldness…
there stand shadows of men before
a circle once home to echoes
of children’s laughter
endorsing a tragedy years before
when red men ruled the land

Barren swift, lie ashen pit
sworn in cross ail
what once stood full and proud
village of comfort, warmth and pride
a cask over flowing waterfall spray
sent a son hunting, wandering afar
hastened for boar
he slips between green leaves
wet upon flesh behind perked ears　

Young thoughts on love forbidden
silly brother to love a red maiden
father livid, face like beetroot
mother lying in bed weeping
laughter swells his happy chest
butterflies and happiness within
and without, free as the wind
from squalid old country
he whoops for the hunt

Young lovers wishes counter balance
as both sides guide keeping distance
his mind finds sweetened eyes
as feet wander ever on
calls from the blessed wilderness
four legs plus hers
beckon the sirens hunt thrilling course
they dreamily lay eyes
stretch bodies so lovingly adored

Love’s deed done, home they are
man to woman, to be betrothed
parents and kin in throes of fear
white and red, never shall meet
for blood is thin among the strange
little brother runs in the wild,
watches red men passing in warrior array
soon be kin these splendid strangers
twinkling eyes matches wide smile

Descending falls village under hammer blows
lids of dream, crimson flowing over
drifting off in streams, they float on
yon distant shore pulled back again
mist riddled space, fills along lumbering oaks
wandering children, waifs of laid waste
serving sign son shining with spirited form
carefree calls colour, reverberate fallen leaves
unnatural, stirs natures slow beat　　

The day futile, no game in sight
dreams of mother’s baked bread
and father’s venison in a stew
smell the smoke, a tower grey
youthful steps to home now make
supplicating hands toward the skies
dirges and calls of dying souls
son of man, he sits aghast
as all he loves go up in smoke

Mother father sister brother called billowing smoke
all is lost for sake, love
who knew boldness serves ignorance
stains of people believing we're different
O how he misses the warmth
sweet flames, hearth and home
wisp and wind　breath　so cold      
leaves he sees keeps blowing along
thoughts on life where does it all go

Night descends, the ashes are cold
walks he up and among those gone
touches hugs gather kith and kin
charred remains of what has been
young heart hurts hands bruised,
to hide beloved, keep beneath the sod
daylight dawns like glowy ember
laughter love and life gone forever
leaving, a lone figure cut a long shadow

Whispering years keep tall tales told
that of massacre, fires, boldness and love
The spectre witnessed every passing year
hunting game, or wailing with tears
many attest to witnessing flames
seeing the glow cast, hearing the screams
lovers kiss beside moonlight streams
war whoops echo haunting deepest shadow
leaping fears high upon backs of new found natives