"Samhain Night*" by Lyndsay E. Gilbert aka Liadan

The sky was black on Samhain Night, devoid of moon and star

He waited for her by the lake until the darkest hour

The moon came out and bathed the scene in glowing silver light

And as he looked into the trees he saw her pale, so white

She walked to him so silently, no sound her tread did make

She walked the earth so silently for fear that Death would wake

And here the veils were running thin

So thin between the worlds

She could grasp his hand in hers

Beneath the spins and twirls

Of Death’s cloak dancing in the winds

And drowning out the screams

The ever-wounding grief of nights

That broke one thousand dreams

The lake was cold and still they bathed, for time was small and fair

They’d loved this lake in times before, there swam without a care

The moon replaced a blazing sun as death replaced true life

As she would fade inside his arms, his soulmate, his dear wife

She kissed his lips, his cold blue lips and wiped his tears away

She held him in her arms until the dawning of the day

When the sun had blessed the sky

And the sky gave up the moon

His wife had faded wordlessly

Had left him all too soon

All hallows night deserted him

For Death had found His Prey

And led His people back with him

Along Night’s ghostly way

He stumbled back into his home, through the forest’s grasping trees

And scratched and bruised with broken soul he fell upon his knees

He called her name, and begged her come, he could not bear to wait

Another year to hold her close, its sweetness came too late

Why wait in the seclusion, and steeped in hate and fear?

The townsfolk shunned him harshly, none would let him near

His house so full of witchcraft

His heart so full of grief

He clutched her broom, willow ash

Her herbals and her leaves

The poems that she had written

He knew them every one

Her love of ancient goddesses

Her spells of moon and sun

His nights were filled with torment, the nightmares ruled his mind

The sight of her against the stake for days could make him blind

Her screams of agonising death, the demon flames that killed

Invoked by those thought holy, for them her blood was spilled

She travelled to his bedside, her face a twisted mess

She called for him to follow her, a burning sick caress

So haunted by her angry ghost

And crying out alone

He lived his life in fear of night

In fear of hair and bone

Left charred upon his pillowcase

For him to see next morn

So he would know it scarce a dream

And to revenge be sworn

Ten years he met her Samhain Night, her old self as before

And every other night she came, burnt and screaming sore

It tortured him and drove him mad, until one fateful night

He took a dagger through the town, and massacred ‘til light

And with his final breath he flung himself upon the fire

There to burn to ash and find his love, his one desire

So every Samhain Night they meet

And bathe long in the lake

And burn inside the flames of grief

And lonely poison take

The ghosts of all the villagers

Go hunting on that night

And death it rules the world of men

‘Till the dawning of the light