Praise for E.J. Stevens
and From the Shadows
“E.J. Steven's From the Shadows is lyrical magic that will bring chills to your spine and a sigh to your soul. Ms.Stevens paints a vividly haunting picture of love, loss, joy, sorrow, and a myriad of emotions in between. This is a collection to be cherished by fans of poetic storytelling, who aren't afraid of the dark!”
--Lisa Phillips, author of Obsession Everlasting
“For anyone that loves dark poetry, I think you’ll love this book of poetry written by E.J. Stevens as well….there’s depth to these poems, with a story to be told in each one.”
--Gracen Miller, Moonlight Lace & Mayhem
“With From the Shadows, poetess EJ Stevens has produced a slim volume thick with dark thoughts and full of finely wrought imagery….It's a collection of pieces full of power and humor, and leaves the reader anxious to follow Stevens back into the shadows for more.”
--Andrew Valentine, author of Bitter Things
“My favorite paranormal poet.”
--Bonnie Lea Elliott, Soul Circle
“Wonderfully, strangely, darkly beautiful with powerful imagery throughout….the epitome of poetry.”
--Shannon Bailey, Bailey’s Books
Shadows
of
Myth and Legend
By E.J. Stevens
Sacred Oaks Press
Shadows of Myth and Legend
Published by Sacred Oaks Press at Smashwords
Sacred Oaks, 221 Sacred Oaks Lane, Wells, Maine 04090
Copyright © 2010 E.J. Stevens
All rights reserved
Stevens, E.J.
Shadows of Myth and Legend / E.J. Stevens
Photography by Amanda Stevens
Front Cover Photo Manipulation by Bill Sanborn
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Contents
Earth & Below
Queen of Elphame
Vampire’s Thrall
Exile
Jiang Shi
Love of a Shifter
Last of the Rowan Berries
Shadow Queen of the Sidhe
Spriggan Guardians
While You Lay Sleeping
Loup Garou
Elven Bride
Zombie’s Cold Embrace
Unicorn
Air & Spirit
Barghest and Mauthe Doog
To See a Fetch
Gargoyle Sentry
Siren Song
The Reaper
Warding charm
Possession
Woman in White
Fire & War
The Phoenix Cycle
Fafnir the Wyrm
Vampire Court
Basilisk
Goblin King
Curse of the Seer
The Dullahan
Prince of Lies
The Morrigan
Water & Ice
Sating the Selkie
The Winter Queen
Grindylow
Ghost Ship
Garden Pixie
Banshee at Water’s Edge
Hippocamp
Wendigo
Kiss of the Korrigan
Swan Maiden
Kraken
Earth & Below
Queen of Elphame
Beautiful Queen of Elphame
Rose wreath garland in her hair
Regal and resplendent
Astride her ivory mare
Radiant sunlight shining
From each silken golden tress
Vibrant green ivy adorns
Her flowing white linen dress
Guardian of cunning folk
Midwives and spirit healers
But woe to those evil men
Pillagers and plant stealers
Those men who dare wreak death here
Who strike down both man and tree
Must do more to please our Queen
Than swear oaths and bend a knee
She will order that they dance
Until they are out of breath
Then command they continue
To suffer a painful death.
Vampire’s Thrall
Tracing rivers of blue veins
Encased beneath marble skin
Searching for signs of life that
No longer reside within
Caressing your cheek and brow
Of cold pale alabaster
My sweet one, my life, my love
My dear immortal master
I listen most intently
My head resting on your chest
For a heart that no longer
Beats from deep within your breast
Why did you bind me to you?
How could you make me your Thrall?
My love ran deeper than blood
No need for this curse at all
In life I was so happy
Already under your spell
Making this foul enchantment
Burn with red-hot flames of Hell
Every hour that I live
I am overwhelmed with need
Only you can bring relief
You must come and feed.
Exile
Legs bound with cold iron
So you cannot flee
Wings wrapped in a glamour
For no human eyes to see
Stranded in the mortal realm
No magic to sustain your youth
A terrible price to pay
For seeking out the truth
Exiled from all Sidhe lands
Sent far from kith and kin
Judged by both Seelie courts
Guilty of our greatest sin.
Jiang Shi
Come along now Jiang Shi
It is time to be led
Back to your loving family
To the woman you were wed
You have traveled far from home
Far from your hearth and bed
We must return you to your wife
Whose eyes are rimmed with red
The priest rings the sacred bell
Rice and herbs have been spread
Your flesh is stiff and greenish-pale
Long white hair hangs from your head
We await you in silence
Our prayers have been said
Time to climb into this damp earth
For Jiang Shi you are dead.
Love of a Shifter
Love of a shifter
Changing with the season
Howling at the moon
You would lose all reason
Though I longed to be
Forever by your side
D
uring each full moon
I had to run and hide
Just this once I stayed
Fool curiosity
That which killed the cat
Finally killed me
To stay together
When you emerged as beast
Was my great folly
I have become the feast
With your belly full
Your hunger now sated
So sorry love, I
Never should have waited
Should have kept my vow
To always stay inside
When the moon is full
Birthing your wolf side.
Last of the Rowan Berries
Waxwings have come and gone
Eating the last Rowan berries
Each pale branch now laid bare
None left to ward us from faeries
Each babe in her cradle
Must be checked each morn at first light
To be sure she wasn’t swapped
With a Changeling child over night
When the Rowan blossoms
It shall already be too late
For so many mothers
No way to change their bitter fate
Feeding on her sorrow
The child a pale green parasite
Changeling babes suckle life
Leaving their host no strength to fight
Rowan berries ripen
Each bough laden with faerie bane
Babes safe in their cradles
Until the Waxwings come again.
Shadow Queen of the Sidhe
Blackberry lips
Brimstone embers in her hair
The evil temptress beckons
For you to come into her lair
Feet dancing on the dark crags
Legs bare but for swirling mist
She pouts at your indecision
And offers up a kiss
Wrapped in shifting shadows
She sways from side to side
Looks coyly through dark lashes
Opens her mouth wide
A growl escapes her
As she reaches for your face
Shadow Queen of the Sidhe
Wraps you in her dark embrace.
Spriggan Guardians
If you dig for treasure
Hidden under ground
Avoid old sidhe and barrows
Grave and burial mound
A fate far worse than death
For those who dare plunder
The Spriggan guardians
Who ever dwell under
The Spriggan may seem small
But they can swell in size
If someone angers them
And tries to steal their prize
Leave them to their treasure
Which they guard jealously
Or risk that they may grow
To murder you with glee
Tearing you limb from limb
Your shiny eyes they’ll save
Adding to their treasure
More souls to share this grave.
While You Lay Sleeping
While you lay sleeping
The small folk seem to hatch
As they all awaken
And climb down from the thatch
For children who are kind
The Brownies do their chores
Working throughout the night
‘Till their small hands are sore
But Brownies will punish
Children who tell lies
They steal away their toys
And dump sand in their eyes
The wee brown men believe
That what they do is fair
Punishing the wicked
Tying knots into their hair
To those unkind to pets
They save a special trick
Spoiling each glass of milk
Keeping you weak and sick
Before you go to bed
Do not forget to pray
To become a good child
Protected from the Fae.
Loup Garou
As the last traces of
My humanity recede
Thoughts shift to seeking out
A victim on which to feed
Changing from man to beast
Becoming the Loup Garou
I long to feast on flesh
My next meal may well be you.
Elven Bride
Clans and families gather
In this valley glade with pride
And await the appearance
Of the lovely Elven Bride
Elegance of the high born
Her beauty beyond reproach
Bare foot lightly touching moss
Exiting the bridal coach
Slender legs bring her forward
As all gathered weep and bow
Dancing gracefully forward
Ready for her wedding vow
Clad in a fluttering gown
Of red monarch butterflies
Setting off the sparkle of
Her shining emerald eyes
Alabaster skin gleaming
Her face luminous and pale
Beneath the shimmering threads
Of her spider woven veil
Wet dewdrop diamonds glisten
In her fiery orange hair
Morning sun climbs in the sky
To shine on our maiden fair.
Zombie’s Cold Embrace
The nights are dark and empty
Since we laid you in the ground
Darling how could you leave me?
Is it lonely in your mound?
Sleep now but a memory
I lay in our silent bed
Until I hear the scratching
That fills my cold heart with dread
I run to the front window
As you lurch from side to side
You scratch at my unlocked door
I look for a place to hide
From within our closet
Still smelling of your cologne
I peek out to see dead eyes
Staring out of flesh and bone
You grab me with foul hands that
Have begun to rot and spoil
Fingers battered and bloodied
Where you clawed through wood and soil
One final breath escapes me
As you stab me with your knife
Dragging me to your dark grave
Your still warm newly-dead wife
No longer sad and lonely
Deep inside your burial mound
You hold my body to you
My pale lifeless limbs still bound.
Unicorn
Over the maiden’s screams
Came a pounding drumming sound
A growing rhythmic beating
Vibrating up through the ground
A flash of brilliant white
As the brigand raised his blade
Fierce, proud, shining Unicorn
Came charging into the glade
He blocked the force of the blade
With his own well muscled chest
Preventing it from plunging
Into the fair maiden’s breast
The Unicorn circled back
Nostrils flaring as he ran
Trampling the evil brigand
Leaving no trace of the man
From upon its regal brow
Grew a single spiral horn
So beautiful yet bleeding
Honorable unicorn
The maiden approached him then
Laying her hand on his head
She kissed the Unicorn’s cheek
Before blushing brightly red
She sank down to the bare ground
Lifting his head to her lap
He closed his heavy eyelids
Taking one last final nap.
Air & Spirit
Barghest and Mauthe Doog