The Old Ones

There are places in the country where

No people show their face,

There are warrens, there are spinneys

There are copses beyond trace,

There are thickets and some groves wherein

The old religion stays,

Left behind by Priests and Druids

To remind us of their days.

 

And a lurking spirit watches

Through the branches of the trees,

Since the time the Roman soldiers

Brought the Druids to their knees,

While the northern gods are hidden

In their days within the week,

Sulking through the groves and hedgerows

Where at night, you’ll hear them speak.

 

When the wind is loosed in fury by

The witches of the north,

With the topmost branches swaying

You will hear them when they talk,

Though their speech is none too pretty

They might howl and weep or wail,

For the lost days of their glory

When they ruled this misty vale.

 

Then they’ll rage across the country

Carried howling on the wind,

While Thor will raise his hammer

Bringing thunder to the glen,

He’ll return with Tiw and Woden

To the spinneys and the copse,

To await the day that Odin

Burns the world with Ragnarok!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Anya Myth]

I loved it. It reminds me of all my favorite books, all medively and such. It's really great. I mean I could picture it in m y mind eye and I was thinking 'Damn, that would be one awesome movie', but then again it could be many awesome movies and books. Keep it up. :)
P.S. I really really really loved this one... I don't know if I've mentioned it before? 0:)

[Danilo Ašanin / ..]

This can be made into a real live hit. 100 :)

[JM Russell]

Imagery outrageous. I love this one too. It is shorter than most but, filled with a great flow and an incredible scary feeling.

[Tate Morgan]

Another piece to the puzzle of the master. Beautifully rendere, Divinly told this is wonderful and enchanting . We do fear our heritage We do fear the unknown . We always make up gods and demons to explain them all. Yet in our time they are different than they were back then. However I wonder how many gods we have created and seen fall ?

[Valentine]

Olden times and the Gods of old..like a story out of your homeland of long ago..Makes me think of old films and tales that were fun to see and hear as a child..seems they stay with us always don't they..Keep them coming..Kathie

[spiritwind]

Oh my word, this is perfect: "When the wind is loosed in fury by
The witches of the north,
With the topmost branches swaying
You will hear them when they talk,
Though their speech is none too pretty
They might howl and weep or wail,
For the lost days of their glory
When they ruled this misty vale."

Extraordinary, perfect writing!
I gave it the illusive 100/100

[Emerald Seas]

A great old world feel, drawing in your readers with characters we all know. Although, since the movie Thor - I have a renewed fondness for the character ;)
Great writing!

[Marie]

This is great. I like the references to Thor and Odin. The old gods never die, do they...?

[quinfinn]

how interesting! it may pique your interest to know that this touched me, being pagan and a descendant of the ancient Druids. i really enjoyed this incredible write.