Monday 16 July 2012

ceremony

Sherina slipped off her simple
Bark dress and eased herself
Onto the greenstone altar
She sensed her mother
Watching sadly at the
Edge of the circle of
Ancient stones
After a year of preparation
The time had come for the
Great giving to Lugh the
Laughing One who gave
The tribe so much and
Asked for just one gift
At the Summer Sunstop
The old druid Macharl
Spoke gently to the girl
And thanked her for giving
Then he passed the burning
Laurel twigs under her nose
To help her relax
And carefully anointed her
Pale body with unguent
From his crystal pyx
Sherina felt a golden glow
Deep in her belly and
The glow spread until
She felt she was flying
High above the temple
Like a skylark rising from
The corn towards the sun
Macharl kissed her forehead
Then his golden bronze sickle plunged
And Sherina's blood fountained out
Coppering the cold stone
As one the watchers moaned
In terror and then growing frenzy
As the bloodstained druid
Raised Sherina's heart
Towards Lugh's star
And signalled for the
Celebrations to begin

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