Halloween Post

Samhain Tanka

 Journey to within;

time to look beyond the Veil.

The Crone is calling.

What is past will now come forth

to search for a place to rest.

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Samhain - pronounced "Sawain" because Gaelic makes no sense - is the fall celebration to remember ones ancestors, release what no longer serves you, and prepare to rest and heal during the Winter to rise again in the Spring. 

It is the time when the Veil between our world and the Other World - the Sídhe (pronounced "Shee" because, hey, Gaelic), the Realm of the Faeries/Fae - is the thinnest. It is referred to by some as the Witch's New Year.

Even Further Spooky Stuff

Banshee Haiku 

 

The herald's trumpet -

plangent in the dead of night -

sings of waning tides.

 

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Ah the Banshee; one of those Celtic myths that followed over the seas to America. The word "Banshee" is rooted in the Gaelic term for the Fairy World - the  Sídhe (pronounced like "Shee"). One myth states that the Keening Women (basically professional mourners) of the Sídhe would begin singing their lament before the news of the death could even be shared, due to their clairvoyant powers.

Of course, since then the story has taken a much more sinister turn. The Banshee became a spectral woman whoes wailing became a sign of certain, violent death. Most instances have also occured near a hevily wooded area for some reason (more inherint fear of the unexplored?).

Perhaps the Banshee isn't exactly a ghost to fear. I mean, her song doesn't kill you directly - it only warns you that your death is impending. The Banshee's cry should be more of a disappointment to hear, if anything. Of course if you do hear a Banshee, you should first check the area for barn owls before you start inviting people to your up-coming funeral.

Further Spooky Stuff

Flying Head Haiku  

 Paralyzing sight;

gnashing teeth and wings of bat.

Bodiless hunger.

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Okay, Iroquois people, this is just weird. The Flying Heads are great, human heads with no bodies. They fly through stormy nights on bat wings (that are placed where there ears should be). They have fiery, glowing eyes, and sharp teeth that lock like jail cells when closed.

I can't even talk about this one; it's just too bizarre for me.

More Monsters

Each Uisge Haiku    

Fit for any king,

yet I am not what I seem.

Ride to deadly depths.

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This monster - specifically one individual beast rather than a type of beast - comes from Celtic folklore. Each Uisge was a water horse who could take the form of a magnificent steed. His speed could not be matched, nor could his strength. Warriors found this horse harder to resist that any weapon or woman they'd ever seen.

Once mounted, Each Uisge would race off at an insane rate to his home at the bottom of a lake. There, his rider would naturally drown hand he would devour them. Granted, he would begin to devour them whether or not they had finished drowning. 

And you thought it was safe to go back in the water after "JAWS"...

More Halloween Beasties

Hidebehind Haiku  

 Shadows are playing - 

no beasts stalking in these woods.

It is just the wind.

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Hidebehinds are an odd bit of American folklore - and they are down-right spine chilling to think about at three in the morning when you have to walk to the bathroom through a dark house. Like most American monsters, Hidebehinds were inspired by a fear of the unexplored Wilderness that loomed over the first settlers.

Whenever a lumberjack didn't come back to camp, this beast was to blame. Hidebehinds, as the name implies, would lurk just behind wanderers and hide whenever their prey turned to look at them. They had the ability to suck in their stomachs to become unbelievably thin so that they could duck behind the smallest tree if need be. When they finally got close enough, they would spirit their prey away to a den where they would feed exclusively on the entrails of the poor, lost human.

Try not to think about this next time you're walking alone and you feel the hairs on the back of your neck rise because you think someone is watching you.

Closer to Halloween

Black Shuck Tanka 

 

Breath hanging like mist,

unseen through the thick of night -

a silent harbinger.

Fearsome and unmistaken;

inevitable specter.

 

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To avoid any conflict, I refer to the End of Fall as Halloween - it's just easier. And as Halloween draws ever closer, I find myself drawn to reading about those beings that traverse the Veil regularly. One of my favorite of such beasts is Black Dogs. There is one Black Dog phenomenon in the British Isles that has been named "Black Shuck".

Black Dogs are omens of ill fortune - specifically death. Some legends specify that the number of barks heard from this behemoth specify the fate of the hearer, but in general seeing a Black Dog phantom is considered bad. 

They are commonly massive, reported to be the size of small cows covered in shaggy, black fur (duh). They have glowing eyes the size of saucers, and paws as big as plates. I don't feel the need to mention the teeth and claws that come along with this animal. Even if death weren't the message being brought, I would not feel lucky to meet this fellow on the moores at night.

Nothing for the Sake of Nothing

Saturday Haiku  

 Coffee shop weekend,

watching time and people pass.

No obligations.

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For those of you who didn't catch on, I wrote this yesterday. I actually had a lot of things that I could have been doing yesterday, but instead I sat outside of my favorite coffee shop with I book I've read before and did nothing.

One of my favorite hobbies is to do nothing. I don't think about what I could or should be doing, I focus on what I am doing - which is simply existing. And, surprisingly, people react to this. I suppose it's not a common thing to see someone enjoying doing real, true nothing. People made comments about what a lovely spot I had (a table in the sunshine with one chair for my feet), or on what a lovely day it was to relax with a book. The inviting aura I exude when simply existing is irresistible to people - and, I hope, contagious.

Unforgotten

Searching Haiku  

 Nothing goes unseen -

my vast eyes don't yet spot you.

Perhaps I'll sleep here?

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This Haiku is an excerpt from a Choka I wrote for a Writer's Guild project. I wasn't exactly happy with it, but I do like this Haiku.

It brings to mind the season of Fall and what it represents - letting go of what is no longer needed. I am hoping to achieve this so that I may enjoy a restful, healing Winter.

Thursdays in October

Ten Three Haiku 

 

Season of ending;

Delicious, deciduous,

prepare for new leaves.

 

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Driving around for work today I felt a little grumpy. I hate driving and I hate being rushed. But then, on a back road, I saw a downpour of golden leaves falling into the road. I was reminded that this is my favorite season not only for the weather and foliage, but for the time of life it represents. This is the season to shed what's old and no longer serves us. We do this in preperation for the long Winter's rest that will heal and clean us for the coming of the Spring. 

I think I'll spend some time with my Tree this weekend.