odes of sherwood

[rengypsy]

i walk in these woods
all hours
all seasons
i feel the magic
the enchantment
and know why i was called here

the trees
the underbrush
the deer and squirrels and birds
they all make a space for me
there is balance here

this is no one's domain
i am but a sojourner
and this is but a resting place
to lay my weary body
to rejuvenate my tired soul
to beat a drum
to share a meal
to listen to the troubadours entertain
to feel and understand my role
in this magnificent display of existence

and the gate is open, friend
enter
sit beside the fire
rest
tell me of your travels
share your dreams with me
have a drink

others will be arriving soon
no worries
the fey watch over us
their magic and the good lord will protect us
and what they cannot keep at bay
our swords will surely suffice

rengypsy

[rengypsy]

not long ago
when the druids reigned
before william set foot on english soil
a spirit roamed this shire
and fey, with man, together shared the air

but sword and blood and loss of magic
stained and drained the soul of nottingham
and trees were felled
crops withered
the river trent almost ran dry
the sounds of feathered ones were seldom heard

came robin hood, little john, maid marian and tuck
and others who joined their noble band
the vines grew strong and thick
the trees' canopy gave shade
brooks bubbles
springs flowed

and sherwood was reborn

the stones of old re stood
the chants brought back the magic
and the little folk
all kind and make
found their way
into these woods again
and a faire took root in sacred ground

[rengypsy]

a gathering
folk came from all around
village folk
country folk
some from as far away as london town
word's spreading
there's magic happening in these woods
different magic
sure, merlin's type
flashes of light and fire
spells drawing from nature's source
but another magic as well
a human magic
born from the spirit of man
an urgency of the heart and soul
a magic of brotherhood
a dance of tribal rhythm
something very ancient
something very right

it's why so many came
on mule, on horseback and in wagon
some on foot
they brought their families
old and young
to eat underneath these trees
to lift their cheers
to toast better times to come
to sing and dance
to walk with the fey at midnight
underneath the waning moon

these grounds, sherwood, are calling
offering solace to the weary
merriment to the sad
and hope to the downtrodden

robin and company stood guard
while all the folk
even gypsies
partook of the peace
and quiet
beneath this canopy

the old and new gods, all, were worshipped
bonds of fellowship forged
it bodes well for tomorrow
when richard shall return
and make england right again

then robin, too, can rest

[rengypsy]

i peer between the leaves
from underneath a stone
around the stem of a mushroom

i see
i hear
i wonder

human kind?
laughing?
singing?
drumming?
so happy, it seems

happy folk
odd, indeed
not hurting
not warring
not tearing up
or tearing down

hmmm
a trick?
or a different tribe?
i will watch longer
and decide
whether to dance in the flames
of their campfire
and sprinkle a bit of fairie dust
upon their sleeping eyelids

strange times
cautiously hopeful
of times past
when we and they lived
beside each other

[rengypsy]

I wonder if there is room for gypsies in these woods?

Think I'll read the cards
and see what the heavens say
about this place
about these people

the queen of hearts
the ten of pentacles
the sun
the heiroglyph
the two of wands
the hermit
and
the ace of hearts

anyone?
anyone?

what message lies within this reading?
what future do these woods offer?
am I welcome?
will folk find solace here?

reader...
seer...
come tell me what is hidden meaning lies within these cards

Sherwood