Through the Fairy Gate

On the dry heath, people frolic and play,

laughing and lively shouting.

Plenty of movement, much running about,

the children's kite outing.

Gently walking down, to the fairy gate,

the wind drops in the glade.

Approaching the gap, in the spellbound hedge,

the sound begins to fade.

Entering the hedge, haunted leaves above,

an eerie silence to share.

Half a step further, in fairy abode,

a chill hangs in the air.

In charmed centre, of the hidden portal,

dark moister all around.

A tingle running, creeping down the spine,

quiet chill silent sound.

Tiptoeing over, magic causeway path,

fairy power in the air.

The portal across, to the other side,

fairy footpath shady dare.

Slowly stepping out, of fairy portal,

folk are quietly sitting.

Balmy air on cheek, the light breeze returns,

peacefulness permitting.

Copyright Andrew Rea January 2021

Introduction

This poem is written about a Fairy Gate that I found on Hampstead Heath a few years ago and describes what I and others have experienced walking through the portal on a summers day. All the effects seem to be real, changes in wind, sound, temperature, humidity and light. On the other side people are seen to be calmer.

Now most of this can be put down to simple geological science, but for me it's a Fairy Gate.

Eluene

They dwell stealthfully, in some hidden place,

Did they come hither, to cleave me apart?

O Wotan, as thou hanged upon the tree,

Were they sent thither, to beguile my heart?

Unknowingly I, may them encounter,

By day in woods and in rolling meadows.

For nor in nothing, nor in things will they,

Dwell by night upon, high hills soft shadows.

And often they come, to my settlement,

That in a mossy bed, they may thee quell.

By my troth those wights, affect me oft,

But yet methinks, I am under their spell.

Perhaps on some shadowy, ghostly path,

Play a great company, of women wild.

Heathen spirits, eluene dance and play,

I pray thee, let me not, be so beguiled.

Or hath fairies led me, into the wood,

Or along some lonesome brook and stream.

Why then methinks, I am ready to wake,

Could they entreat me still, when I doth dream?

Or sometimes when, the mist is hanging thin,

At twilight where things, are not what they seem.

Or when a falsehood, in my eye be seen,

When no man or beast, can hear me scream.

Copyright Andrew Rea Yuletide 2020

Based on a 13C Worcester/Gloucester passage about elves.

Eluene is a cognate for elves

The Proposition

 This ones just a bit of fun to take your minds off of reality.

Young maid I entreat thee, wilt thou partake,

Of a common indoor recreation.

By my troth, I hath the marital gift,

Perchance thou might, comprehend my drift.

When I thee inquired, thy voice were sweet,

Show me thine favours I doth thee entreat.

Wouldst thou not'st be glad, to have some sport,

Come hither lass outside let us cavort.

I warrant thou art skilled, in marital arts,

Thou know'st about those hinterland parts.

O by your leave, I pray thee entreat me now,

By my troth I am qualified to plough.

Art thou loath, to cast away thine fine drapes,

Perchance to observe thine beguiling shapes.

Those dazzling wonders, of creation,

And make me a common recreation.

Although I knowest not, where thou dost dwell,

I beseech thee this knowledge me pray tell.

I entreat thee, that thou forthwith admit,

As thou know'st thou art ready for it.

Dost thou think because, thou art fair of face,

That thee could set the nuptial pace.

Wouldst thou be glad, to have a merry hobby,

Come hither lass outside into the lobby.

When thou spokest earlier, 'twas very good,

I durst have sworn interest in my manhood.

Or was it that lass yond, that spoke so soft,

By my troth I have fairies in my hayloft.

Copyright Andrew Rea 2020

A prayer for truth

Our scientist, who art in lab

hallowed be thy data:

Thy results come

thy projection

In vivo as it is in vitro

Give us this day our correlation

And forgive us our nit picking,

As we forgive those who nit pick against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from cherry picking.

For truth is the kingdom,

without power or any glory,

For years and years
Amen.

Lammas 2020

Ragnarok

Dark clouds appear, Ragnarok it begins;

Our Witan thought not of this dim nightmare.

The dark elves gather to fire their elf shot,

Flying venom lands here and everywhere.

Folk scurry and fight out of fear as the;

Smithers work hard and forge the dark elf shot.

Pestilence befalls the towns and heathland,

Loki is about he weaves his dark plot.

The kindly Angel of Death roams the land;

Who can he help to cross over or spare.

Wilt the coming season the grey beards see,

The great mead halls of Valhalla prepare.

No elder old enough to point the way,

The many grey haired had best stay inside.

The quarantine bell is about to toll,

We will see each other on the other side.

Copyright Andrew Rea on the feast of St Benedict 2020

(The patron saint of Europe)

Snow

White blossoms of snow, as the day lengthens,

Fall from the heavens, as the cold strengthens.

A wintery veil, of elfin white crowned,

Forms a comfortable, wrappage for the ground.

Children lark and laugh, like merry field wights,

Oblivious of, these cold chilly nights.

In nightly revels, with their frivolity,

They have overwatched, in their jollity.

Crisp wintery form, descends from the sky,

An elfin white mist, falling from high.

Through the heavy snow, the gait of night stark,

Whose specter full many, a man doth mark.

Winding chill winds howl, along the long leigh,

Stand fast, dost fear? Dost fear to ride with me?

Some durst not venture, on this elfin night,

Doth the still moon shine, in the soft snow bright.

The holly tree with, his snowy white crown,

Dreaming of when, summer cometh to town.

O tree, full oft, hast thou been so bedecked,

Snowy down blanket, with emerald spikes flecked.

Trudge home contemplating, that cheerful glass,

Heavy gait of night, wilt soon come to pass.

Jack frost soon be gone, if he dost intend,

And bring the bitter, wintertide to an end.

Copyright Andrew Rea, First week in Advent 2019

Raising the Devil

Raising the Devil

The Devil take you, they said to John Dee,
Between the Devil, and the deep blue sea.
Awd Scrat the Devil, looks after his own,
If you raise him, better the Devil known.

Talk of the Devil, he's sure to appear,
The Devil is in the detail, I fear.
In league with the Devil, said men of power,
With luck of the Devil, he left the tower.

Devil made me do it! was he mislead?
Have the Devil to pay, in guise of red.
Between the Devil, and the deep blue sea,
What the Devil was, to become of Dee.

You can go to the Devil, for what you knew,
Sell your soul to the Devil, and pay your due.
Don't speak of the Devil, unless you dare,
Devil in disguise, and Devil may care.

Give the Devil his due, bow your head low,
Play Devil's advocate, reap what you sow.
They said Devil take you, and burn in Hell,
But he shamed the Devil, and broke their spell.

Introduction
A collection of 24 sayings about the Devil and one or two others with reference and apologies to doctor John Dee.