{"id":18588,"date":"2018-10-01T01:10:04","date_gmt":"2018-10-01T06:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=19178"},"modified":"2018-09-29T17:46:07","modified_gmt":"2018-09-29T22:46:07","slug":"the-wind-came-at-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2018\/10\/01\/the-wind-came-at-night\/","title":{"rendered":"The Wind Came at Night"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Wind Came at Night<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the days of chilling blaze<\/span><\/p>\n

Springtime sun as winter fades<\/span><\/p>\n

Dazzling spears and green grass blades<\/span><\/p>\n

The gale the only blight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Driving out to picnics gay<\/span><\/p>\n

February turning into May<\/span><\/p>\n

Hearts and smiles throughout the day<\/span><\/p>\n

But the wind came at night.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Batten hatch and throw the catch<\/span><\/p>\n

Draw the curtains and the latch<\/span><\/p>\n

Find the candle; light a match<\/span><\/p>\n

Glow ghostly and white.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lights to ward off what\u2019s outside<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever feral monsters ride<\/span><\/p>\n

Abroad; their entrance is denied<\/span><\/p>\n

Though the wind comes at night.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I saw a face outside my place<\/span><\/p>\n

Swiftly passed, as in a race<\/span><\/p>\n

I blinked and there was not a trace<\/span><\/p>\n

I shivered with the fright.<\/span><\/p>\n

I ran upstairs to check again<\/span><\/p>\n

Peering through the glass in vain<\/span><\/p>\n

The window howled as if in pain<\/span><\/p>\n

From the wind in the night.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clutch the blade and don\u2019t be swayed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seek the spirit! Seek the shade!<\/span><\/p>\n

Call the cook and tell the maid!<\/span><\/p>\n

We search until the light.<\/span><\/p>\n

Laughter in the face of fear<\/span><\/p>\n

No bravery but a butt of beer<\/span><\/p>\n

The wetness on my face a tear<\/span><\/p>\n

From the wind in the night.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I grabbed my hat and stroked the cat<\/span><\/p>\n

I peered between the shivering slats<\/span><\/p>\n

I shrugged my coat on, faced the mat<\/span><\/p>\n

I now would find this Wight.<\/span><\/p>\n

For who was in this deathly storm?<\/span><\/p>\n

What poor fool trapped and all forlorn?<\/span><\/p>\n

Or was it evil \u2018pon my lawn<\/span><\/p>\n

When the wind came at night?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Slam the door and stand before<\/span><\/p>\n

The howling horror\u2019s mealy maw<\/span><\/p>\n

Step forward though the soul abhors<\/span><\/p>\n

This strange and streaming sight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trees are bent and strain to rise<\/span><\/p>\n

Back to the black and bubbling skies<\/span><\/p>\n

Clouds thick and crying; flying eyes <\/span><\/p>\n

Borne on the wind at night.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The muddy grass was slippy glass<\/span><\/p>\n

The rain like ice; cold, hard and fast<\/span><\/p>\n

I braced against it, held the mast<\/span><\/p>\n

Pressed on, quick as I might.<\/span><\/p>\n

To save a soul or fight a ghost<\/span><\/p>\n

I knew not what I feared the most<\/span><\/p>\n

So wide eyed, I became engrossed<\/span><\/p>\n

In the wind in the night.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Turn around, and back you bound<\/span><\/p>\n

Running from the brutal sound<\/span><\/p>\n

Cacophony of sky meets ground<\/span><\/p>\n

The planet bursts alight!<\/span><\/p>\n

Or stand and see the riders\u2019 glee<\/span><\/p>\n

The horses stamping fretfully<\/span><\/p>\n

Red eyes, black coats, white spittle; see<\/span><\/p>\n

The wind come in the night.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t flee; I had to see<\/span><\/p>\n

What creatures stomped and stared at me<\/span><\/p>\n

I turned and riders one, two, three<\/span><\/p>\n

No reins; no bit to bite.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recognition jarred my heart<\/span><\/p>\n

My lord! My earth! My burning hearth!<\/span><\/p>\n

My words though, they were ripped apart<\/span><\/p>\n

By the wind in the night.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

See the fire, see the spark<\/span><\/p>\n

The star, the candle in the dark<\/span><\/p>\n

The life, the sound to which we hark<\/span><\/p>\n

The blood, the beat, the light;<\/span><\/p>\n

The terrifying truth of life<\/span><\/p>\n

The endless struggle, burning strife<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning key and turning knife<\/span><\/p>\n

The wind that comes at night.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was no waif I had to save<\/span><\/p>\n

Nor any ghostly, haunting wraith<\/span><\/p>\n

I had spied from my house so safe<\/span><\/p>\n

So warm and kind and light<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Cernunnos!\u2019 I cried out. \u2018Herne!\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Take me with you, let me learn!\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

They laughed, and all my visions burned<\/span><\/p>\n

In the wind that came at night.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

North or South or East or West<\/span><\/p>\n

I know not which gust is the best <\/span><\/p>\n

I only know I need to rest <\/span><\/p>\n

I have no will to fight<\/span><\/p>\n

Though each day dawns well <\/span><\/p>\n

and morning swells <\/span><\/p>\n

with promise fierce and true<\/span><\/p>\n

Once evening creeps I cling to you.<\/span><\/p>\n

The wind<\/span><\/p>\n

It comes<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> At night.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*Copyright 23rd<\/sup> February 2016<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

About the Author:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Mabh Savage<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0is a Pagan author, poet and musician, as well as a freelance journalist.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She is the author of\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>A Modern Celt: Seeking the Ancestors<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> and\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>Pagan Portals \u2013 Celtic Witchcraft: Modern Witchcraft Meets Celtic Ways<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Modern Celt: Seeking the Ancestors<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pagan Portals – Celtic Witchcraft: Modern Witchcraft Meets Celtic Ways<\/a>
\n\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Wind Came at Night   In the days of chilling blaze Springtime sun as winter fades Dazzling spears and green grass blades The gale the only blight. Driving out to picnics gay February turning into May Hearts and smiles throughout the day But the wind came at night.   Batten hatch and throw the catch Draw the curtains and the latch Find the candle; light a match Glow ghostly and white. Lights to ward off what\u2019s outside Whatever feral monsters ride Abroad; their entrance is denied Though the wind comes at night.   I saw a face outside my place Swiftly passed, as in a race I blinked and there was not a trace I shivered with the fright. I ran upstairs to check again Peering through the glass in vain The window howled as if in pain From the wind in the night.   Clutch the blade and don\u2019t be swayed. Seek the spirit! Seek the shade! Call the cook and tell the maid! We search until the light. Laughter in the face of fear No bravery but a butt of beer The wetness on my face a tear From the wind in the night.   I grabbed my hat and stroked the cat I peered between the shivering slats I shrugged my coat on, faced the mat I now would find this Wight. For who was in this deathly storm? What poor fool trapped and all forlorn? Or was it evil \u2018pon my lawn When the wind came at night?   Slam the door and stand before The howling horror\u2019s mealy maw Step forward though the soul abhors This strange and streaming sight. Trees are bent and strain to rise Back to the black and bubbling skies Clouds thick and crying; flying eyes Borne on the wind at night.   The muddy grass was slippy glass The rain like ice; cold, hard and fast I braced against it, held the mast Pressed on, quick as I might. To save a soul or fight a ghost I knew not what I feared the most So wide eyed, I became engrossed In the wind in the night.   Turn around, and back you bound Running from the brutal sound Cacophony of sky meets ground The planet bursts alight! Or stand and see the riders\u2019 glee The horses stamping fretfully Red eyes, black coats, white spittle; see The wind come in the night.   I didn\u2019t flee; I had to see What creatures stomped and stared at me I turned and riders one, two, three No reins; no bit to bite. Recognition jarred my heart My lord! My earth! My burning hearth! My words though, they were ripped apart By the wind in the night.   See the fire, see the spark The star, the candle in the dark The life, the sound to which we hark The blood, the beat, the light; The terrifying truth of life The endless struggle, burning strife Turning key and turning knife The wind that comes at night.   It was no waif I had to save Nor any ghostly, haunting wraith I had spied from my house so safe So warm and kind and light \u2018Cernunnos!\u2019 I cried out. \u2018Herne!\u2019 \u2018Take me with you, let me learn!\u2019 They laughed, and all my visions burned In the wind that came at night.   North or South or East or West I know not which gust is the best I only know I need to rest I have no will to fight Though each day dawns well and morning swells with promise fierce and true Once evening creeps I cling to you. The wind It comes At night.   *Copyright 23rd February 2016   *** About the Author: Mabh Savage\u00a0is a Pagan author, poet and musician, as well as a freelance journalist. She is the author of\u00a0A Modern Celt: Seeking the Ancestors and\u00a0Pagan Portals \u2013 Celtic Witchcraft: Modern Witchcraft Meets Celtic Ways.   A Modern Celt: Seeking the Ancestors   Pagan Portals – Celtic Witchcraft: Modern Witchcraft Meets Celtic Ways<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":206,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/206"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18588"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18588\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}