Category: The Old Ways

NaPoWriMo Day 19

On By WinstonIn Dark / Gothic, Lovecraftian, Lovecraftian Poetry, Macabre, My Chaotic Mind, NaPoWriMo, Old Gods and Magic Folk, Poetry, The Old WaysLeave a comment

Another literary world of which I am a fan is that created primarily by H.P. Lovecraft and a number of his contemporaries. Commonly known as the Cthulu Mythos, it began in 1919 and continues to be added to in literature and film to this day. Here is my offering to the Great Old Ones. Enjoy

My Last Free Will

Great ancient ones from far beyond,

This world that we know,

They call to me and will not stop,

As slowly mad I go.

They seek the key. Am I a key?

Is that a thing they said?

Or are the voices only here,

Inside my rotting head?

No wait! The speak again to me,

From this I cannot run,

From this asylum I’ll be freed,

For them I’ll wreak such fun.

I have been locked up here for months,

For things I have not done,

Then when you see my real work,

Know I was not the one.

I can’t! I won’t! I know this is,

Not who I’d truly be,

They’ve twisted, broken, swallowed whole,

The soul inside of me.

Sedate me please and bring more guards,

To stand outside my cell,

If they succeed and I run free,

This place will turn to hell.

It is on chaos that they thrive,

Their food our misery,

They would use me to cut a door,

From their dark void set free.

They show me visions of their dreams,

Of all that I might do,

In my nightmares, I glory there,

Skin flayed and blades pierced through.

They think me lost, bereft of will,

Abandoned to my fate,

That I am just a key they’ve shaped,

To break that eldritch gate.

But I’m still here, I write this note,

How do you know it’s me?

If you’re alive and reading this.

I’m dead they are not free.

Cheers,

NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 28

On By WinstonIn Fantasy, Lovecraftian, Lovecraftian Poetry, NaPoWriMo, Old Gods and Magic Folk, Poetry, The Old WaysLeave a comment

Tonight’s poem is this year’s official entry where I speak to the poet in my head and say, “I’ve got nothin’. Go write it without me.” This is what happens when I let these things write themselves.

Poem Write Thyself

The elder Gods, the ancient ones,

The ones we would deny.

The elder Laws, the ancient ones,

The ones we would defy.

We who now walk where legends strode,

With our diminished stride.

Pretend we are the pinnacle,

Yet know the truth inside.

The elder Gods, the ancient ones,

Forgotten not unmade.

Technology and med’cine now,

The ones we call for aid.

The elder laws, the ancient ones,

We flaunt and wonder why.

We have no blessings, find no peace,

And bitter tears we cry.

The rules were so clear back then,

Those were much simpler days.

The elder laws, the elder Gods,

All understood their ways.

We tell ourselves that times have changed,

That’s our excuse for all.

But when our need is at it’s worst,

It’s them we seek to call.

We call them by a different name,

Than what they used to know.

But they still recognize the tone,

Though we have wronged them so.

So now and then, our broken prayers,

An ancient God will find.

And they may grant our desperate wish,

But not ’cause they are kind.

There is a price that we must pay,

If their aid we would seek.

The ancient laws are very clear,

Their terms often quite bleak,

The elder Gods obey the laws,

Which most men have forgot.

Their aid is earned or bargained for,

But never can be bought.

So when our science and our skill,

Fall short of greatest need.

We may invoke the elder Gods,

The law says if we bleed.

For it is long since sacrifice,

Was offered for their fame.

And blood will buy forgiveness for,

Forgetting any name.

If you would seek the aid of them,

Beware the price you pay.

For elder Gods and elder laws,

Take blood the elder way.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 26

On By WinstonIn Dark / Gothic, NaPoWriMo, Old Gods and Magic Folk, Personal, Poetry, The Old WaysLeave a comment

For some time now, I have been having a hard time sleeping through the night. I fall asleep quickly enough, but often wake up a few hours later then struggle to get back to sleep. Last night’s three and a half hour nap provided the fodder for today’s offering.

Ode to Pasithea

Oh elusive fleeting vision,

Which vanished in the night.

Would that you tarried here with me,

Until the morning light.

Far, far too soon you did depart,

While I bereft remain.

Of your sweet solace now deprived,

To face my day again.

Return to me I do implore,

Please bless me with your grace.

Remove the cares which freight my soul,

And with your peace replace.

Return, return I beg of you,

With me in darkness stay.

Then at the dawning take your leave,

Do what you will all day.

Oh Pasithea if you hear,

Your husband’s favour bring.

If Hypnos grant this boon to me,

Your praises I will sing.

Again in darkness I awake,

To find sleep fled once more.

It seems that Hypnos though a God,

Cannot abide my snore.

Cheers, Winston

Note: Hypnos was the Greek God of Sleep. Pasithea, his wife, is believed to have been the Goddess of Rest and Relaxation.

NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 20

On By WinstonIn Embrace the Wild, Environment, Fairy Poem, NaPoWriMo, Nature, Poetry, The Old WaysLeave a comment

I love being in the woods. The sights, sounds and just the feeling I get there. For me, there are few things more relaxing. This poem is also about that.

Come Home To The Wild

A dappled light falls gently here,

Amid the forest green.

And there is peace here ‘neath the boughs,

Such as you’ve rarely seen.

A doe and fawn graze near a pool,

Where rushes gently sway.

The chirps and songs of unseen birds,

The music that we play.

A squirrel dashes up a tree,

Then out upon a limb.

From there leaps to another tree,

That’s how it keeps so slim.

There’s flowers there in jewel shades,

Within a clearing small,

And water splashes nearby from,

A little waterfall.

Now look and listen carefully,

My best beloved child.

Come to the wood and sit with me,

Connect back to the wild.

For you can’t love what you don’t know,

And nature needs you now.

To undo all the harm they’ve done,

It falls to you somehow.

Come sit beneath the shady tree,

And hear the raven’s cry.

Feel now the earth within your bones,

Hear summer breezes sigh.

There’s all of this and so much more,

Within my leafy glade.

It’s here for you to love and learn,

No need to be afraid.

Accept this peace down deep within,

Allow your mind to clear.

I am the spirit of the wood,

And you are welcome here.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 18

On By WinstonIn Fairy Poem, Fantasy, NaPoWriMo, Old Gods and Magic Folk, Poetry, The Old WaysLeave a comment

A little nod to my pagan friends. Enjoy!

Elder Gods and Magic Folk

Quite long ago, and longer still,

Before the world we know.

When mountains were the realm of Gods,

The Underworld below.

When fishermen threw back their best,

To make the storm abate.

And all knew there were magic folk,

Both terrible and great.

Then all the Gods and all the fae,

Would meddle constantly.

So we would sacrifice and pray,

And hope they’d hear our plea.

But slowly then and slowly still,

The old ways fade away.

But Gods and ancient magics dwell,

Still in the world today.

Religions tried to banish them,

Then scientists did too.

But ancient ones still find a way,

Despite all they would do.

Now croon the elder hymns to them,

Walk with a slower tread.

You can’t go wrong by leaving out,

A little milk and bread.

Sure science says there is no way,

For magic to be real.

The laws of physics not something,

Some old Gods can repeal.

Yet never has a dying man,

Called Einstein to his aid.

Nor asked to see a scientist,

Damnation to evade.

Old God’s and magic folk abound,

So old and older still.

They’ve always shared this world with us,

No doubt they always will.

Cheers, Winston