Shades of colour, shades of black
shades of lightning flashing back
echoes distant in the night
fire’s burning — feel its bite
.
Whispered voices in the ear
magic tones remain unclear
one part pine sap running down
thistle, hemlock that’s been ground
.
Two parts mandrake, spider’s lace
belladonna, mustard paste
lick of hemlock, myrrh, bloodroot
smell the burdock, burning jute
.
Toadstool, guano, song of crow
footprint from the beetle toe
forest echoes, termite’s sneeze
rumours from a passing breeze
.
Image of a demon bug
mucus from the leopard slug
wicked is a wild brew
steeped in venom, feral stew
.
Jimson, henbane, faerie rings
owl hoots and larvae strings
lurid nightmares, ghoulish dance
curb the shrieks but heed the chants
.
Spell’s been conjured, spell’s been said
bitter grudges to be fed
smell the sulfur, smoky stone
cauldron boils the whittled bone
.
Shades of colour, shades of white
rising sun sends home the night
chanted echoes in the dawn
breaking darkness — night is gone …