Handoma

Handoma/Sami Khalil

(The Village witch)

========================================================

She was ominous looking. A widow with dark gifts, according to townsfolk, who slavishly followed their mutable fears, sometimes framed in ignorance.

Her face was lined, snow-white, but to behold at narrow glimpse with eldritch manners. "Incredibly strong", she was accused of many mystical occurrences in this alpine village straddled by lofty mountains, bone chilling; A rebellion against the gruesome king, resulting in her husband’s death, who was the key-holder and the rebel leader; A famine that followed her curse of the land; The suffocation of the high priest; The eerie shrieking sounds at quiet nights; The totems and books found in her house…

There was rage and much accusations by the populace. It seemed everyone wanted simple answers or solutions toward certain types for adoption. In particular, no self-identification with the outcasts of society. What a pity! For many people operate in their own self-interest without compassion, influenced or not, for saturation points.

“Death must follow her,” they demanded. “We must set her and her house on fire,” and so they tried but she escaped, unlike her house, to the woods, to be bound by solitary veils.

Starless were the nights she spent recalling her husband’s memory, who was her sword and shield. If she can only visit his grave at night stealthily, and be with him, summoning his spirit, then the embers of love will stay inflamed as ever out of life’s agony.

Something told her to go back to town, in dancing shadows of the Moon, and pay her respects. It could be a dream or it could be a nightmare, but she was adamant with certainty.

The evil guardians were waiting for her, tipped by a plethora of spies, who took her to the town hall, to be burned alive, while the happy, sanguine red chanters, who went around and around in circles, became all utterly blind magically. 

She had the last laugh!

Overwhelming was her joy.

Reviews

[Steven]

i dont punctate well im sory for that. the first couple of lines made me feel a sense of setting up hidden subplots and dominoes and back story timeline and the characters strength and weaknesses. honestly this could be almost any timeline, but the personal attacks the character gave herself was almost as bad as her fate. i dont know what im supposed to put here... none of us are really "the ones" to critic beyond i like it or not. but this reminded me of playing a game called hellblade. i dont think either or has really anything in common but how i felt on both.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Thank you so much dear poet and friend for this wonderful review and sharing. Reader can interpret according to their experiences and understanding.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'Handoma'
Sami Khalil,
Fear is the core of this piece. It can be a very strong theme in our lives if allowed. Lives are on the line and it is a matter of deciding what is important when dealing with others that are 'different' or that are not agreed with or understood. We all know that but it's good to know some things can't be changed. I rambled through this so will just go for now. Quite a story I must say. your characters and the place where the story happens make it super interesting. handoma is a mysterious one.
Blessings,
Kathy

[Sami Khalil]

Hi Kathy! How wonderful for you to visit and embrace the message of this short story with your kind heart and selfless compassions. It is indeed so true what you have shared and it is a reality in many parts of the world. I thank you and hope you are all safe and healthy.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Thanks Sami,
We all just need to keep up our best efforts to live healthy and of course safely.
I wish you good dear writer friend.
Kathy

[Sami Khalil]

Thank you. Same here. All rich blessings.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Sami... we live in unbelievable times... and especially now
with Fires burning along the West Coast... as though Evil has
infiltrated the beauty of a Coastline that once was a Lifeline
to so many. We must deal with Good and Evil... as choices
will be made in the after glow of loss of many natural plants
and wild life. It is very Eeeeerie and we must be aware of the
Wolfe at our Door. Your writing, Sami , has stirred the Cauldron
of my Soul and Prayers are ascending. truly, Pat

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! So true and well said dear Pat. Very powerful message and very true. I'm so humbled by your great spirit as you are elevated by us all beyond the clouds. Happy Holidays if you celebrate. If not, that is ok too...

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Sami... because I have a close Jewish friend,
I have learned so much of their customs and beliefs,
such as Hadassah... "Hadas means myrtle tree.
Hadassah meaning compassion is a lovely name.
I was raised on the Old Testament and the New.
Likewise, I am drawn to the Jewish beliefs,
although different in some respects. I did keep
Saturday as the Sabbath for years. I especially like the paragraph of her husbands memory... his being her sword and shield. I actually celebrate ideas that I believe to be true and applied in life at certain seasons. truly, Pat

[Sami Khalil]

All good to know. Thank you again.

[aaron]

A good read and a fun tale. I like this a lot.

[Sami Khalil]

Whoa! Thank you so much Aaron for the time and effort. Good to see you.

[aaron]

Thanks. Its good to bw back.

[Sami Khalil]

::::::))))))))

[Chris Shaw]

A beautiful piece of writing and I do love it when it involves a bit of karma. A lovely read with my first cup of tea this morning Sami. I think the image you posted compliments your story and I thank you for your words.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Good morning. I do thank you for taking the time and I do wish you joyful days ahead. See you soon.

[Chris Shaw]

You too Sami.

[Sami Khalil]

:)........................

[The ArK]

You have that magic in you, friend. That 'dark gift' to make the world flow seamlessly.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Thank you so much dear poet for this lovely review and kind words. You are appreciated.

[peter Duggan]

Wow Sami you do written these wonderful pieces of literature with so much Talent. It is a joy to read you, my friend. I enjoy all your writes....peter

[Sami Khalil]

OMG! Thank you so much great Peter Dogan for this amazing review and appreciation. You are honored...

[John Ciarmello]

Another wonderful piece of work my friend! I'm addicted to your style, aside of repeating myself I truly do recall each emotion while I ponder! Thanks Sami, for the read!

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! I'm so honored to have known you and your poetic, artistic style and inspiration. May you keep the flame going abreast. Much obliged.

[John Ciarmello]

Will do my friend!

[Sami Khalil]

:)..................

[Travis Gibson (poetic h..]

You pen with such precision... didn't know where the story would good till the very end, great writing!

[Sami Khalil]

Thank you so much Travis for the taking the time and effort to visit and review. So glad you like it.

[Jennie Baron]

A well-crafted story indeed. One with such poetic language and vivid imagery that the reader can tell you are indeed a poet. Were it my fiction piece, I might simplify the language for greater clarity and use less passive voice, etc., but this is definitely your style and I always advise writers to be true to their own voices. I liked this story very much!

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! I totally agree with you. Being oneself and writing with own style, is an authentic reflection of who we are without bias or pretensions. I like your honesty and I appreciate you. Hope you can post new things to share.
Much obliged.

[Jennie Baron]

I hope so, too! Right now I'm focused on publishing a new edition of my e-book on Amazon. Maybe once I've made that story and those characters the best they can be, inspiration for something new might come. They won't let me be!

[Sami Khalil]

:).................