The Elven Queen and the Woodcutter

014 The Elfin Queen and the Woodcutter

This is a poem with an Elfin twist. The words are below so that you can translate them. Brightest Blessings Vivienne xxx The Elfin Queen and the Woodcutter The Forest of Thenn was as silent as snow, With the tall trees rocking in the breeze to and fro, When out of the distance came a thump and a winch, And a crack and a shudder as the whole forest flinched, And the eyes of the Queen of the forest shot wide, My trees, my trees, she muttered and cried, And She flew to the edge of the Forest of Thenn, And stood there in horror at the broken old man, Who had been the Guardian of the forest Yew door, And his tree lay beside him on the soft forest floor. Her gentle face twisted in an expression of wrath, And her swift gaze beheld a young man on the path, As he peered so intently but his eyes could not see The tall Elf that stood beside the old tree And his ears did not hear her magical words That hung in the air like soft singing birds He stood there trembling, perplexed and afraid At the winds that blew fiercely in this beautiful Glade Then... out of the frenzy of cascading leaves He discerned a white figure, amongst the tall trees This time when she spoke, he heard with no ears, But the meaning came clearly in his head with Her gaze, “Who are you to cut down my Guardian Tree, And pray why didn’t you ask permission of me!” His eyes moved to where the Yew had once stood And lying beside it was an old man in a Hood And his blood ran red on the soft fallen snow And he knew it was him that had rendered the blow That had killed the old man whose home was the tree And that justice was coming for the deed done by he! “Now do you see what crime’s of your making For the ending of life, which isn’t yours for the taking And your task for this journey that you have begun Is to right all that’s wrong in the deed that was done And the journey you take will be decided by thee Three choices are given and each is then free Of danger to you when done in good part For penance is short when given with heart The first is quite simple, a life for a life To bring to this forest, your beautiful Wife. Who you’ll leave in the forest in the care of the trees And she’ll live out her life here for 100 years And they ‘ll seem just like weeks, in the Forests deep delves And she’ll learn of the ways of the Forest and Elves And then of her choosing she can ask to return Or live out her life in the bracken and Fern. The second is this, and we think not of gain We know that you own a horse of great fame Whose speed is both noted by Elves and by Men, Would you give up this beast and bring to our Den For this Mare has then powers that none could foresee So will you then make of her a present to me? And the third is for you our Guardian to restore By taking his position at the Forest Yew Door To guard us from dangers both hidden and seen To be loyal and gentle and to serve your new Queen I will leave you now for three days and a score And will meet you again at the Forest Yew Door And I ask that you honour this meeting we’ve made And She turned then swiftly and left the White Glade Thyme turned then slowly 'til the meeting was due And the Woodsman return as agreed by the two The Queen was then waiting as he entered the Glade “Your decision I presume by your presence is made” Said the Woodsman, “ I know in my heart what is right, And I knew this for certain after dreaming one night, I accept the choice of a life for a life And have brought here, then with me, my beautiful wife And as for the second, I will also abide The Mare, as you see has come along for the ride And I offer myself freely as a Guardian for Thee For I knew from my heart that my choice was all three”. And the Queen then smiled and addressed his small wife "Are you happy to give up your life for a life?" "My life as a human for a life as a Fae I would not regret and I'm willing stay My mother you see, was of Elfin blood born As Elf I am half and to this life I am sworn." The Queen then turned to the Woodsman and said “You’ve chosen then wisely and your deed is now paid” And as she then spoke he felt such a change That defies all description in mortal tongue’s made And her hand moved over his head with a breeze And all at once, he became at one with the trees He felt each tree, both old and the young He felt each ones presence, their lives and their Song He could not believe that such wonders could be In the life of each tree and their wood memory For each tree knows the stories of the trees from before And that was not all, for they know of much more, They know of the trees that live far away And they exchange then their knowledge in everyway And they know then the memories of the events that had past And have played out forever, and in wood they’ve been cast So they know then the history of Man and of Elves Each tree tells each story and nothing "dispells" And this was his penance, it’s a Blessing thought he To be given the Guardianship of This Beautiful Tree?