The Coven

I had shot a couple of pheasants,

Was returning, deep from the wood,

Avoiding the crackle of branches, making

As little noise as I could,

The sky was clear and a harvest moon

Shone down through the old oak leaves,

When I saw the glimmer of candlelight

Shimmering through the trees.

 

I hid myself by the mighty oak

That had grown, six hundred years,

And heard the mutter of chanting there,

The rhyme of an evil verse,

I looked on out to a clearing where

The Devil and all were stood,

Thirteen candles and thirteen cloaks

And thirteen wearing a hood.

 

The Devil stood on an ancient stump

His face was hid from the mass,

He held a crucifix upside down

They all bowed down in the grass,

A woman rose from the group and peeled

The cloak that covered her form,

The sight of her beauty caught my breath

As if I’d never been born!

 

The hood remained, and concealed her face

As she dropped down on all fours,

The Devil leapt from his stump, and raged,

Then took her there by force;

The others chanted and danced about

In a circle, for some rite,

Despoiling the Devil’s chosen witch

Was the purpose of that night.

 

They all dispersed as the moon went in

Was hid by an ugly cloud,

I kept my eye on the Devil’s form

He was wrapped in a purple shroud,

I trailed him, loping, out of the wood

Like a beast that’s held at bay,

And brought him struggling to the ground

To see what he’d have to say.

 

I ripped the hood from his evil face,

He snarled and snapped in the night,

‘Let’s have a look at those evil eyes!’

He growled, and put up a fight;

But I laid him low by the mansion gate

And I held him there on the ground,

He yelled: ‘I’m the Lord of Leighton Hay

The Lord of these these woods and downs!’

 

‘So this is the Demon Devil’s face,

Then who was the Winsome Witch?

I’m sure the Lady of Leighton Hay

Would be ready to flay the b***h!’

‘You mustn’t tell, it would break the spell

Of the coven, and all my power,

What would you take for your silence, now,

For the reck of this parlous hour!’

 

‘There’s just one thing that I’d take from you

To silence this gossiping tongue,

She’s sweet, petite, and has dancing feet,

And I guess you know, she’s young!’

‘If you talk about Lady Caroline,

My daughter, never for you!’

‘Oh well, the Lady of Leighton Hay

May brew up a Hell of a stew!’

 

That was a year and a day ago,

We wed, and live in the lodge,

The witches are still in the woods out there,

I often go out to watch;

But my Lady wife is an innocent,

I know she’d never deceive,

Except for the pot of serpents and frogs

She brewed on All Hallows Eve!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[spiritwind]

Your rhythm and your rhyme are so natural. I wouldn't be surprised if you spoke like this in everyday natural conversation for how else do you get so at ease with communicating like this? It is awesome to those who cannot do it and I think your verses would be awesome even for those who can do this kind of poetry too. I can find no fault.

[Rob Santana]

David what a great poem my friend,well written. I like that you have a darkside to your writing. The word DEVIL or MAGICK can be so taboo to people. Much respect for putting a dark writing like this out here for everyone to read. This one is definitley going in my library. Thank you for sharing it with me.

[Heather]

very well told story, why does the hunter need to go and watch so often, perhaps he is tempted by the coven's spell?

[Marie]

A well told story...
But his lady wife was no innocent...
He'd best beware...

David I love the fact you mention the un luck for most.... the number: "Thirteen" While in Catholic Italy where I lived it's just a lucky number. (Eli's confusion of the day) *smiling* further, I like the facing fact I prove you're not afraid from the devil, and all what is dark. (It only is a great thing in you) a wise thing. Some have been on purpose immediately blind by just hearing the word of the dark lord. HA! lovely ending, I love your writing. It has humor, a wink and even grace! you're an fateful lovely old man! and I'm the middle-new generation, you teach brilliantly! so thank you very much.

E.L.