Witch’s night

In the whirlwind's fabled song
they threw themselves into 
the battle of the dance
danced and sang, time and time again
the witches' hair 
hung like tangled hemp

They awakened the power of the body
eyes closed in delight of terror
the fire's rain of sparks 
danced in the rytm
with the sleeves towards the sky 
like the ornament of the antlers

The darkness is darker tonight
the clouds drift faster tonight
the wind howls louder tonight
the treetops sway more strongly tonight

Exhausted bodies 
fall onto their backs in pain
they can no longer be held up
the blood swirls 
like the foam from the waterfall
the flames ebb out 
like a silent thought

The moon shines on dewy marsh
the living stand 
like new-born reeds
the tree crowns receive the gift 
that the light offers
where the soul returns 
to the life of the forest.

Berit Haga March 2003