A Halloween Tale: By the Fireside

She moves silently across the night 

a deathly vision of beauty and grace 

bathed in a moonbeam's light 

where she walks there is not a trace 

All that see her know it well 

from village to glen to forest trail 

evil she is, from which she fell 

a ghost she is, a grave gone stale 

The woman long dead floats above the ground 

the face is lovely, but 'tis a dismal shade 

her love lost, which she never again found 

you listen good laddie, be very afraid 

I will tell her story from many times long past 

a mournful tale full of heartbreak and sorrow 

come nearby to where this warm firelight cast 

But what she now reaps is what she then borrowed 

'Twas a day early in the brightest Spring 

that her lover had come in on foot from shore 

a handsome young lad carrying a ring 

she was his sparkle, his love, that and much more 

A village feast high was for days prepared 

a great celebration for all to come 

family and friends, how they came and cheered 

all were there, brothers, sisters, and close chums 

And bright that April day was, full of sun 

flowers all around, blue daisies, white and crimson red 

two were to be joined, forever as one 

But perched nearby was the Raven; sign of mortal dread 

Along the low road her lover made his gainly way 

To his lovely bride, a bouncing happy gent 

there the brigands stopped him, everything he must pay 

all he possessed upon him before he went 

"I have no money, not a single pence 

just this ring for my love made of brightest gold 

but you shall not have it, I will go from thee hence! 

on the young lover went, foolish, brave, and bold 

They all fell on him, in their number was nine 

with axes, maces, and swords, the beat him down 

from his broken body they took that ring so fine 

One said, "To the sea we go, we will watch him drown!"

To the sea cliffs they took the poor lad; still alive! 

and over the edge he was thrown, into the sea flailing round 

Even in amongst the waves, they could all see him strive 

until tired and wounded, the betrothed young man drowned 

And for a week, she stood at the altar 

rain and tears fell from her shoulders 

never did she give up, no she did not falter 

he was nowhere to be found, so they told her 

when he was found, his body came up from the deep 

his body blue and beaten, washed up on shore 

the bride to be, steadfast, did not mourn, she did not weep 

but instead, crossed her heart, and promised to settle the score 

that night in her hut, dancing by her own fire 

came a brew so vile, of phosphorus and human ash 

she called out dark names, both evil and dire 

then there was a sudden boom and a bright flash 

stood before her, the Lord of Darkness, old scratch 

"Why have you called me, my pretty young foal?" 

She told him, and he waved his hands, "There's just one catch!" 

"When I have done what you want, I will take your soul."

And all that night, he worked his dread 

and slew every single Brigand in that group 

I tell you, lad, he ripped them to shreds! 

not one was left alive, not one of that troop 

He came back for her, out of her hot fire 

he hugged her tight, pressed his face into her bosom's swell 

and sank them into the ground, into the mire 

they went strait to those damned gates, straight to hell 

Now, ever since that fateful night 

she, doomed to walk this mortal plane 

beware on the moors and trails after last light 

he vision is damned for any man, both holy and sane 

a man's soul she quests, ripping their body apart 

after midnight is when she seeks her evil meal 

so think twice before a night journey round here you start 

for its your very life that she seeks to steal 

if you should be out at night on some lonely track 

the soft smell of woman so lovely, near where you stand 

fear for your life, young lad! Her hot breath is upon your back! 

and her evil calling behind you, "Are you a brigand, are you a brigand?"

Run, run I tell you, run so very fast 

until you've run out of breath and are at this very fireside 

for when you're here, away from that terror shadow cast 

you can count your life safe, until next morning you bide

--william paris