The Hounds of the Morrigan.

In the dark of deepest conscience caverns
where secret self retreats to hide,
far from the world's accusing vision
when sleep's sweet kiss has been denied
Morrigan, avenging huntress,
three Grimhounds straining at the leash,
stalks catacombs of paranoia
for those who never can find peace.
When hunter's moon at the hour of waking
outshines the light of morning sun
the king of darkness in bleak triumph
opens the gates of Avalon
to free the hunter from confines of dreams
so her hounds may scent the afeared
and chase and hunt down shrinking shadows
of those who dare not face their wyrd.

Minutes, seconds stepping by so slowly
deny the sanctuary of dawn light
while the hounds; envy, ill - will, resentment
gnaw at the mind corrupt with spite.
Morrigan delivers retribution
on one who can forgive no wrong:
carry a grudge into the dark days,
the Grimhounds will pursue beyond.
Find grace in forgiving on Samhain night
or be haunted by the silent sounds
that will track you through the coming year.
The Morrigan and her Hell Hounds.

Notes:

The Morrigan - Celtic goddess of retribution, like the Hindu Kali she is both a destroyer and giver of life and in common with all Celtic goddesses she has three aspects, enchanter, seducer and avenger.

Grimhounds is a term used in some very old books of folk tales to describe the Morrigan's little pooches. I think it is rather apt for hallowe'en

Hunter's Moon is the name of the full moon after the equinox, the season when iron age hunters would go out and try to fill the food stores with meat for the long, hungry winter.

Avalon (the Isle of Apples) is known to lovers of the King Arthur stories of course, it is the place where the dead go to, not at all like the Christian Hell but more like a refurbishment centre where souls are prepared for reincarnation. I can't just recall the link between death and apples so we'll do that another time.

Wyrd - old English for fate but more like Karma than destiny, the sum total of all the baggage you have collected in life.

Samhain (aka Samhuinn) - the end of the pagan year, hallowe'en to us. The Celtic calender was based on farming and so the new year did not begin until imbolc (Feb 1st) when the earliest buds appear and the first lambs are born, when fertility returns to the earth mother after her annual death. Between the two come the dark days when to the northern Celts, life was almost suspended through the short days and long nights. This season is know as the suicide season by the people of Sweden which has the highest suicide rate in the world. It demonstrates perhaps the importance of the sun in our lives - no wonder it was the principle deity of the ancient world.

Forgiveness is used in the pagan sense of letting go of things and not bearing grudges rather than in the Zionist sense of seeking forgiveness by sucking up to a God who is no more than a modern myth. For people who are about to lecture me on how real Jehovah is, you should remind yourselves as the poet William Blake reminds us all that the Covenant with Jehovah goes "when you learn to forgive others their trespasses instead of hating and seeking vengance then I will forgive you your trespasses and live amongst you again." Sorry guys, but if you can't understand your own religion maybe before you get on my case you should start to do a lot of reading. Start with The White Goddess by Robert Graves.
   

 Three more poems for Hallowe'en