A Midnight Dance in the Mushroom Ring
A fantastic poem loosely inspired by Welsh, Scottish, and Irish folklore
Ere came I ‘pon a field so green,
Neath a midnight sky with shades unseen.
In a woodland glade was this ghostly scene.
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Revelry was the noise I heard,
For in the trees was nary a bird,
Nor in the field a mouse brown furred.
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Through that hollow rang a stumbling beat,
Drums, harps, viols, and stomping feet,
That drew me forth, enticing sweet.
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'Twas then I saw by happenstance
White-robed figures caught in a dance
Amidst the mushroom ring, a startling trance.
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“Come,” one said, “hold hands with me!
Dance and sway, wild and free!
Find you nothing here but mirth and glee!”
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To her I went, in the soft moonlit glade,
Though I knew not how, revel I made.
To drums I stomped; to fiddle I swayed.
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It was then the night grew long.
The fair folk played unending song,
Erewhile was their laughter strong.
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Around us then the circle swirled.
To wild song, the dancers whirled.
Time meant naught to all the world.
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It was then a sudden sight,
The ghostly veil of dawn’s pale light,
Rose above the glen’s great height.
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Then she said, “come, my love, if you intend,
We can this mortal earth ascend,
I’ll show you my land, where all sorrows end.”
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It was then that the revels ceased,
The fair folk from their dance released.
Their solemn eyes looked towards the east.
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“I cannot,” I said, “For I have sheep to tend,
But still, I wish to call you friend,
If you will once more your hand extend.”
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She smiled then and said to me,
“You are most kind, but this is to be
The hour my kingdom calls to me.
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“But if by morning you miss me still,
Come when the moon rests on the hill,
Then resume this dance we will.”
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As the dawn’s light shining fell,
They left and bade a fond farewell,
And went to the green hill where they dwell.
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Then home I went with some dismay
To see my parents, old and gray.
They said I was gone two nights and a day!
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When I had told where I had been
My mother had a look ‘most green.
My father from his chair did lean,
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“My son, you must not return,
For this is a lesson you must learn,
Their revels are not for us to yearn!”
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But e'er since my heart did ache,
For the full moon so I could partake
Of the glee and mirth that they did make.
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Now happiness my heart does lack,
And sharp pain does my body wrack,
Despite it all, I must go back.
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Comments (30)
Such a wonderfully written poem. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I subscribed to you and I intend on reading more of your works.
The folklore thread throughout is just beautiful and love the imagery and archic language, really gives credance to the narrative x
A Wonderful revisit
Oh my goodness I read this with Jamie Fraser's accent and I am not disappointed! This was flawless and so well done!
Wow! Wow and holy cow Ian! This was a wonderful poem! I can’t believe I didn’t read it when it was top story back in June, thank you for recommending it to me! I loved the cadence and flow of your writing! It felt like it was set to a dancing song and I flowed through each verse! Also I read the whole thing aloud in my best imitation of a Scottish accent and that is definitely the best way to do it! Beautifully done good sir! Sliante! 🍻
Whoaaa, two nights and a day! Also, it's a land where all sorrows end. I don't blame him for not being able to resist. I enjoyed your poem so much!
Magnificent poem Ian ! Being of Welsh heritage I really have a deep appreciation for your creations. Congratulations 🥇
Ian this was incredible! It reminded me of all the faerie stories I grew up with and loved. What a beautiful poem.
This was as whimsical and magical to read as the fae you brought to life with your words! The rhythm even almost had me reading it like a song ☺️ I absolutely adored this! Thank you so much for writing and sharing with us 🩵
Stunning beauty.
Ooo, I loved the rhythm you established in this. Felt it carrying the story along so well, I wanted to clap along as though someone was chanting this around a fire. I was drawn in and held tight from start to finish. Really wonderful piece. Congratulations on a very deserved Top Story :)
OUTSTANDING WORK !!! KEEP WRITING ✍️ 💜💜💜🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love this so much! True to your inspirations, it feels very Irish in its rhythm and theme to me, and of course its subject matter; I can’t read about a dalliance with a mysterious (fae) personage and not see an Irish folk tale. (Though now I want to read more Welsh and Scottish tales!) Very well done! I was enraptured from start to finish.
This piece is excellently written. You have excellent command of syntax and diction. Great work!
This is awesome! I am Irish and Welsh and really felt a pull reading this. Great job!
Well crafted. Congratulations on Top Story!
Masterfully written Ian. You did such a wonderful job with the rhymes and the magical flow. I really enjoyed reading your heartfelt and insightful poem. Great job!!!
Whatever you do, don't eat or drink anything they give you!! 😮 I would take "was" from the 3rd line? 🤔
The is perfect 💯 ❤️❗
Love the unique rythm with the three lines and breaks!!
This is awesome Ian!! Great job!!
This is gorgeous and flows like a song. Very well done.
Great poem! Enjoyed the rhymes, the rhyming scheme, and the way it all flows!
This is brilliant, remember woodcuts of Tam o Shanter and the like in a Newcastle Museum, love mythology and Folk Tales. This WILL be a Top Story
I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. I loved the language, the flow, and the description. I felt like I could see the dance, trees, shrubs, and forest. When a story makes me see the pictures in my head, it comes to life for me. Great work, excellent.