Little Witches
One little witch
with bright yellow shoes
did a magic spell and then there were two
two little witches
in a white birch tree
did a magic spell & then there were three
3 little witches
at the red kitchen door
did a magic spell and then there were 4
4 little witches
sharpen silver knives
did a magic spell and then there were 5
5 little witches
on blue broom sticks
did a magic spell and then there were 6
6 little witches
At a quarter past eleven
Did a magic spell and then there were 7
7 little witches
on a green metal gate
did a magic spell and them there were 8
8 little witches
making spider wine
did a magic spell and then there were 9
9 little witches
chasing grumpy ladies and cross face men
did a magic spell and then there were 10
10 little witches
with their little black cats
did a magic spell and next Halloween they’ll all be back!
The Winter’s House in Winetown
Was Saturday the witches came
haggard hoary bristly three
and in the kitchen at the sink
incanting charms and pantry spells
resorted themselves to beauty.
Then went down to the lake again,
fairy visits and cool trees,
bouquets cut of certain weeds
grown only on forgotten graves.
Taunted dreaming frogs with transformation.
Lured from whispering reeds,
wood duck, heron, silent swan.
Cupped and rubbed soft feathered chins,
left them fast asleep invisibly protected for the night.
Velvet bats alight upon their fingers
sang them softly twinkling songs,
until blown away by kisses, flew off beeping through the dark.
Back home then for mid night tea
around a blazing fire.
Wood rum, pale cakes, spiced ales.
Nettle cheese, pumpkin slices, chestnuts roasted,
mushrooms honeyed, cups of steaming coffee coco.
Where greeted right well all manner of visitors.
Unknown travellers of the night.
Those with, as well as those without, a definitive day time shapes.
But none so well as the tabby cat.
Intent on playing catch the front porch pixies
strayed bounding in across the flagstone floor
and before she could correct herself and flee?
Clear bowls of cream.
Cooked river fish.
Petted, stroked, and secret named,
until red cushion velvet by the fire purred herself to sleep.
And at the first faint sign of sunrise?
a final toast of elderberry
a spell to do the tidy up
stumble giggle up the stairs
to find their way beneath the blankets into my creaking bed
