On Riley Hill
The tale of Old Jen
Widdershins, widdershins
The wind blew widdershins
Across the Moor and through the rill
And not a soul dared venture out,
As a demon wind threw itself about,
That night on Riley Hill.
Flickering, flickering
The candle was flickering
As old Jen wrote with ink and quill;
And bitter were the words that flowed
From her scrambled mind as the wild wind groaned
That night on Riley Hill.
A scratching, a scratching
The nib was a scratching
As words poured forth with meagre skill
From shaking hands that sorrow knew
Yet knew not what of the terror it grew
That night on Riley Hill.
A howling, a howling,
The wind it was a howling;
Such strong a hand would surely kill,
It grabbed the trees and tore them down
And scattered the roof tops from the town
At the foot of Riley Hill.
Battering, battering,
The wind was battering,
Raging on for hours until
The monster drew its final breath
Leaving all to blame the faithless wretch
A top of Riley Hill.
So gently, so gently,
The breeze blew so gently
Through golden haze of morning's thrill
That only the fallen trees could tell
Of a storm that came from the depths of Hell
That night on Riley Hill.
A sleeping, a sleeping,
Old Jen was a sleeping
And in her hand was gripped the quill
That wrote the words all called a spell
Which summoned the demons from stormy Hell
That night on Riley Hill.
Galloping, galloping,
Horses came galloping
Across the moor and through the rill
Pushed onwards by their riders who
Were fuelled quite mad by the terror that grew
A top of Riley Hill.
A banging, a banging,
Fists they were a banging
Upon the door, they banged until
They broke it down to crash to floor.
Temper does a no man good yet rage it soared
That day on Riley Hill.
Protesting, protesting,
Old Jen was protesting;
She showed the words all claimed were ill,
Words that would have her claims believed,
But all were feared from talk and none could read
That day on Riley Hill.
Diary, diary,
Who would keep a diary
Recording all the thoughts that fill
The mind and heart of shattered dreams?
T'was a broken heart not a witch's schemes
That bled on Riley Hill.
* * * * * *
Tick and tick,
Tick and tock,
The hands of time move deosil
And though the people cease to be,
Still holding secrets is the mighty tree
A top of Riley Hill.
And the breeze blows gently through its leaves
As phantom fingers playfully tease,
Singing its song through the branches of
The oak they call the hanging tree.
And who knows now how the story goes?
We walk on by as the soft breeze blows,
Weaving its tales through the years and of
The deeds that happened long ago.
As the rill flows downward it instills
A peaceful air 'cross Riley Hill.
But time and tale wreak a ghostly trail,
And like the breeze, stories stay not still.
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Comments
Virtual tea, coffee and cake for whoever gets through this one....its longggg x
Long but absolutely brilliant. Storm Dennis was battering my window as I read and I had just caught up with Good Omens on i-player. Really enjoyed this one, I hope it joins this months nominations.
Nigel
Nigel, you deserve a medal for reading this! It is very long...but I am so glad you liked it. Thank you so much
Cake ???? chocolate ?☕ x
Send me my cake please ?...I actually really enjoyed this...I had a sense of witchery from it and I'm fascinated by the injustices on poor peasants called witch for any reason at all in bygone years...especially women. The utter terror and injustice or it all. Question though...what is a widdershin?? ?
Some virtual cake ???? and coffee, tea and or hot chocolate or wine or beer ☕???? thank you so very much for reading.
Like you, I am appalled at the way people were declared a witch and tortured for such silly reasons. And in this poem, poor old Jen was hanged because she kept a journal. People thought it a book of spells. They blamed her for the terrible storm. We don't know the reasons how or why she lived alone at the top of the hill, but she did and this hermit like existence just fuelled the mistrust.
Widdershins is an old archaic word meaning anti clockwise. Deosil means clockwise. I use both words in the poem.
Thank you so very much for reading. This is such a long poem and many people, I'm sure, won't read it because of this, so I truly, truly appreciate the fact that you read this through. Thank you again ?☕ x. Oh... And a medal too, you deserve a medal ? x
Your poem is lovely once you start reading you want to continue so the length doesn't matter. You have an interest like me...have you read 'Witchlight' by Susan Fletcher? If not I strongly recommend it BM...it is one of the most beautiful and sad books I have ever read...my favourite. It is centered around the Scottish Highland and is a mixture of actual facts and myth legend etc...it is based on a young girl Corrag who is labelled witch and her life and her part in warning the clan of the massacre etc...it is just stunning ??
That book sounds right up my street! Thank you for the recommendation. I will get myself a copy and read it. My ancestors on my mothers side hailed from scotland and one of them was accused of being a witch and was burned at the stake. To think of the many poor souls who were put to death for something that just never really was saddens me. Thanks again for the book recommendation x
Wow...really?...yes, it's terrifying to think that we as a species can be so cruel. Try to read this book, I think you will love it. It is the most beautiful book I have ever read ...sad, and descriptive and soulful and beautiful. This is partly because of the writer and how she transports you through time and place. The events actually happened but it is mixed with myth legend and mystery...it is all about the life and journey of this young 'Witch' ...and how this clan 'adopts' her and her part in warning them. The clan actually was massacared. You won't be disappointed BM. Let me know if you read it and what you think ,?
I will do x
I need some Scotch. SKIP the tea but I will.take some cake. Brilliant write
Hehehe some ???? and a ? and a well deserved ? for getting through this poem! Thanks so much for reading, Greg! Have a fab day x
great poem
Aww Greg... thank you ? I think you have earned your cake ????? coffee/tea ☕ and most definitely a medal for getting through this. Thanks again x
" Old mother, Riley, had a cow. She, did not know how to milk, it. "
But, you sure know how to milk this scenario, here. To, effect.
What a commitment. You " flowingly " make, admirably, to bring it all, home.
" You, know what to get. " From where ? It, is a spell-binding " antipathis " of thoughts over experience, of " landscape ".... apart from emotional investment, and, dichotomies. Gratifying. But, edgy !
:) Keep it up.
" It, is all about, timing. " You, know.
" Never, give up, on a good thing. " Whatever...makes you, happy !!!
Thanks.
Hehehe timing has never been my strong point...I am usually late for things ? ?
Thankyou for reminding me that it is important to follow your heart (do what makes you happy and not give up) x ?
Hi Richard! Once again, I am honoured by your very thorough feedback. It is very kind of you. I think you deserve a medal for reading this...?... (but I am glad that you did read it) also, as promised, a virtual cuppa ☕ and some cake too ???? Seriously though, I really do appreciate the fact that you read this and I am also appreciative of the wonderful comments you left. I am glad that you like this poem (I know many won't) and I thank you again for your support x ?
Wow I had to pin this one. I am a huge Poe fan and this reminded me of his style of writing. Plus the subject of witches being put to death is something I have always been interested in the history of. I thinking you knitted a perfect poem here. A great tribute to them and having that style of poe just topped it off
wonderful write. You are so talented :)!
Hi Gwendoline... That is very high praise indeed. Thank you so much! The topic interests me too, greatly.. Certainly far more than it probably should lol. I do honestly appreciate you giving up time to read this (I know it's very long) . I give you a virtual coffee and cake for doing so ☕???. Oh... and a medal too ?️. Once again, thank you so much x
Nom nom ? thank you very much. It was worth the time to read. A great write x
Wow it is like a folk song. I love it x
Thank you, Fiona. That is very sweet of you to say so. I wanted it to read as a tale but it does need a LOT of editing lol. Maybe I will get round to editing it one day, but I have a massive editing job on my hands with something else at the moment.but thank you sooo much for reading. And as promised here is your virtual coffee ☕(coffee cup emoji) and your cake ??? (various cake emojies). And i also give you a medal ?(medal emoji). Once again a big THANKYOU. I do truly appreciate you giving your time to this x
I only got to the end because it is brilliant. Thank you for the beverages and lets meet again for another cuppa xx
Awww... That is really kind of you. Yes, we will definitely have to meet up for another virtual cuppa x
well done and wonderous read (I assume the third widdershins is misspelled)
my apologies for being too critical
Thank you so much! It's a v e r y long one so virtual coffee and cake forgetting through it! ☕? much appreciated. Keep safe and stay well x
All corrected now...many thanks x
Wow. Don't know how I missed this in February except to say in my defence I was on holiday. Absolutely brilliant; Dylanesque. And what a story it tells.
Omg... Wow! What an amazing compliment! Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked the story. Virtual tea, coffee and cake for you my friend... And a medal for reading such a long poem. Thank you, I very much appreciate your support ???☕?☕ x
Poe and Lovecraft and Stephen King would all relish in reading what's on offer here.
A captivating read from beginning to end that literally comes alive and leaps off the page.
With perhaps a wait and see portent conclusion, pinned for a deserved and respectful reread this Halloween night with the lights turned off and somebody holding my hand and not some thing!
Brilliantly written Tina and kudos delivered in poetry spades for writing and sharing and I so enjoy reading a dark one and you have made my night. with such a bewitching write.
Thank you so much. x
Awww...Shaun, thankyou so much for reading. It's a long one! Virtual coffee and cake 🍪🍩🍰☕☕ Glad you enjoyed the read. I do so love stories and to write poems in the narrative form enables me to explore stories in poetry. Thank you for your support I truly appreciate it xx
If this is not poetry, then it must surely be something akin to witchcraft .. since it was far too easy to get tangled and engrossed in the spell that it cast upon this reader ......... I am indeed mightily impressed madam BM tis no mean feat to hold this old fella's attention like you did .. Loved for so very many reasons ..
.. Neville :) x
Hahaha — damn, you sussed my secret! Lol Just joking, I love stories and poetry so combining them is something I very much enjoy doing.
Thank you, Neville, for reading this long poem — virtual tea/coffee and cake ☕🍰🍪 being sent your way. Good to know it held your interest and fantastic to gear you liked it. Many, many thankyous my friend. Have a fab day x
Wishes for a FAB day well n truly reciprocated my luverly friend BM ... N :) x