The Summoner
She sat
where there was a cat
in the lily watching, whiskers a spoon
dripping nectar red as noon
under the shapeless moon.
She spat
a glass of black,
of the wine that always comes back,
poured it out while
the lily-cat purred,
nearly slurred the calling word;
but it
came reaper-swift,
burnishing the teeth it brings
from the place where no bell rings,
sour cloudsmoke and venom on her own stolen wings.
~August 2013
posted for real toads
Challenge: Words Count with Mama Zen
The terse and talented Mama Zen asks us to tackle the subject of Voodoo, in 73 words or less. Of course, with me, there is no 'less,' only many more littering the cyber-floor, but I believe I have pared it down to the requirements.
(Apologies to Karin Gustafson, who saw the cat in the lily, which I have flagrantly appropriated.)
Image Credits: Theft of Substance, by Remedios Varo
Public domain via wikipaintings.org
Lily Cat, © joyannjones 2013
Ha. No apologies necessary - I'm not sure I remember cat in lily except very vaguely - and you've certainly used it to good measure here - first, the sound is just great - so incantation like but slapping at the same time - each of those short line/rhymes. Secondly, the distilling works very well as it forces you into these charged hyphenated words which are vivid and somehow onyx-like - and then you have your own gift for dark witchy but somehow universally soul-deep imagery. I love that she nearly slurs the calling word--and who wouldn't with cat watching and all that black wine (or blood or moon nectar) - this also shows, to me, effect of some of those Shakespearean songs you've posted. k.
ReplyDeleteThanks k--I know it was just an off remark, but I jotted it down instantly, so thanks for the line. And plenty of midsummer night's-mare here, for sure.
DeleteBeautiful, & quite nearly a children's early-reader. :)
ReplyDeleteDamn!
ReplyDeleteI almost got this one....
Almost. Grrrrrrrrrr
Phew, for a minute I thought I was doing it wrong. ;_)
DeleteYou get more than you think, G, and maybe you'll even have a weird dream about it someday.
Oh, the tone is perfection, Hedge! But how could it be any other way...you have that witch-y touch...love "own stolen wings!!"
ReplyDeleteAnd somewhere the is an unfortunate wingless bird, bloody in the lilies.
ReplyDeleteWow you nailed this one - great write.
ReplyDeletePS--your cannas and containers are so pretty, Hedge. >>>
ReplyDeleteArcane and dripping with dark magic!
ReplyDeleteJoy Ann, this is magical and dark, in the way I have come to expect from you. A seamless read, it flows beautifully. Hope all is well with you. I am still running round like mad here. I need a vacation.
ReplyDeletePamela
and a tingle up my spine. woven well, hedgewitch.
ReplyDeleteI hope I never have a weird dream about it, my friend, or you will hear from me.
ReplyDeleteA super write!
K
Ha! Thanks, Kay.
Deletesome really cool rhyme and allit in this hedge...the watching whiskers -oon -oon - oon....i like the sounds it all makes together...the interplay with the cat is intriguing...that last stanza def brings the dark magic to me...and the spitting of black wine...exorcist flashback there...smiles.
ReplyDeleteLast stanza is priceless.
ReplyDeleteLove "where the lilly-cat purred". Beauty and danger and mysterious words. Sends a chill up the spine.
ReplyDeleteAh, who better to write of spells...brilliant as always. Love this dark piece!
ReplyDeleteNo one writes voodoo better than you do :) (I love your cannas, too. I used to have some, eleventy decades ago.)
ReplyDelete"of the wine that always comes back"
ReplyDeleteDamn, that's chilling. You owned this, Hedge.
In agreement with mama, this is ownership right here. that top picture is beyond perfect as a scene setter. And you command the dark art making it appear like Voodoo Childs play. Purple Haze wafts from the snout of a drunken dragon as she brings this one to life around my cyber camp fire. I know its odd but this is my kind of bedtime story. Chills with chinks of cheek ripping, eye winking sparkle, enough to imagine the dragon dancing post poem composing and more than ready to continue drinking!!!
ReplyDeleteThe black wine can really go to your head. Thanks, Arron. I can see you reading this to your imp children for a bedtime story. I'd love to see a drunken dragon dancing, personally--it gets pretty dull out here.
DeleteWhat a cool spell! I wanted to do something like this but my what came out came out. Eye of knewt...hehe.
ReplyDeleteAnother brilliantly cast spell! I love the rhymes-gives it a chantlike cadence.
ReplyDelete... 'the place where no bell rings' ~~ my favorite line in your eerie voodoo poem!!
ReplyDeleteHedge, dredging up and smashing with a sledge... my God, don't know where to begin. Cat in lily, poisonous combination. All the color imagery is brill, the rhymes only "tipped their hand" in the second read-through, not at all distracting from the spell you wove. Damn, this is great. Amy
ReplyDeleteA wonderful chanting spell that brings on the magic.
ReplyDelete