Song of the Fairy Flute

a ballad !

 

Song of the Fairy Flute

 

He came back on a day laden with snow

Puffed flakes fell endlessly to the frozen ground

A still tree's shadow the only obstruction

To the loveless sun’s bleak glow abound.

 

He had left not so long

But a moon’s wink ago

Skin smooth and unwrinkled

His oats still to sow.

 

He came back on that day

With eyes pale as milk

Brown wizened face,

And a beard of white silk.

 

His wife was but twenty,

And he an old man,

She knew not what to do with him

So she took off and ran

 

A crowd built around him with quizzical brows

As tired eyes saw him for the first time in days

“How could this be?” They murmured around

No end to their questions to raise

 

“Where have you been?” They demanded,

Regarding his long white beard.

He did not say; just shook his head

It seemed to be as they feared.

 

They feared one thing and one thing above all

The hidden land that held fairies abound

Where time passed slow as the snoring earth’s breath

And from where young men returned with beards to the ground

 

“Have you been to the land of the fairy?”

They asked clicking sharp tongues

The man did not answer, just pulled out a pipe

And shrill notes he blew with strong lungs

 

The notes spoke his words in its high teeming voice

The crowd leaned in to hear

A string of words fell into place

In notes played quick and clear

 

“I’ve been not gone, of this place I’m not from

It hasn’t been as you’ve said

You think me to be your dear friend

But the fact is that he’s dead”.

 

An eruption of gasps came from the crowd

At the words of the small flute

“How is he dead, and who are you?”

They demanded of the ancient mute.

 

Once more he placed the flute to his lips,

A twirling of notes came forth,

“I am his son of a fairy folk mother

I’ve traveled here from the north”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[Wildecat]

This poem is awesome it has a musical quality about it, well done.