The Winter’s House In Windtown, by pd lyons

The Winter’s House In Windtown

Saturday the witches came
haggard hoary bristly three
and in the kitchen at the sink
incanting charms and pantry spells
resorted themselves to true beauty

and walking by the lake again
cut bouquets of certain weeds
grown only on forgotten graves
taunted frogs with transformation
lured from whispering reeds
wood duck, heron, silent swan
cupped and rubbed soft feathered chins
left them fast asleep invisibly protected through the night

upon their fingers velvet bats
sang busy beeping songs
until blown away with kisses.

then made it back for midnight tea
around the blazing fire
wood rum, pale cakes, spiced ales
nettle cheese, fresh sliced pumpkin, acorn soup, roast chestnuts
honeyed mushrooms, steaming cups of coffee coco

and greeted right well all
unknown travelers of the night
but none so well as the stray tabby cat
intent on playing catch the porch pixies
bounded slid across the polished floor
and before she could correct herself and flee?
clear bowls of cream
cooked river fish
petted, stroked, and secret named
til red cushion velvet by the fire purred herself to sleep

and on the first faint sign of sunrise
a final toast of elderberry
helped to do the tidy up
before slightly stumbling up the stair
to find their way beneath the duvets of my creaking bed