With my blackthorn cane
I prodded and pointed to find my way.
With my fairy tales limb
I was a hero to face giants I needed to slay.
I was a hero to face giants I needed to slay.
Live blossom scent convinced me
and inspired me where to go;
and inspired me where to go;
But nay, those giants were my ancestry
wrapped up in a sloe.
wrapped up in a sloe.
A sloe, or two, with apples
makes mighty fine jelly,
makes mighty fine jelly,
But if not kept dark, cold, and hidden,
may get a bit too smelly.
may get a bit too smelly.
So left in the cold,
and through any treacherous night,
and through any treacherous night,
I stay awake, longing for light
so I can, at last, taste this delight.
so I can, at last, taste this delight.
But as soon as
came the morrow,
came the morrow,
Eager to commence it
without sorrow,
without sorrow,
She came sweet, sincere
and most definitely cunning;
and most definitely cunning;
Her eyes, my eyes joined at the jelly,
that started running .
that started running .
Tears, hot, dropped
from just above my face,
from just above my face,
Darkness to light searingly hurt
but, yay, I have found may place
but, yay, I have found may place
Beyond all calling to all points
that break us and betray.
that break us and betray.
Escaped from the gauntlet of all pain
that a hero carries today.
that a hero carries today.
Some say, better the bramble than the blackthorn;
Better the blackthorn than the devil re-born
Because a blackthorn stick or flower guides
Us to a place where there's no need to hide.
But where is this place
a lone worn traveller may ask?
a lone worn traveller may ask?
I say, ask the blackthorn faerie
but first she will give you a task
but first she will give you a task
And I warn you she'll mark you
with her berries of indelible ink,
with her berries of indelible ink,
But you'll love all if you surrender
to the nectar she'll offer you to drink.
to the nectar she'll offer you to drink.
to read an explanation of this story poem please click here