If You Cannot See The Wood For The Trees
An Ash Tree Legend By: Fiona Siobhan Powell
If you cannot see the wood for the trees,
You may find yourself drawn on the brightest of days, by the colours that sing against a blue sky.
In the woods, there is one that might whisper your name.
A tree that stands tall, leaves brushing the air, breezing a welcome, and drawing you in.
Without thought you will stumble, until your back rests against her bole.
Her bitter sap will begin to ensnare you, dripping poison into your ear
As you sink onto the grass beneath her, a voice from the past will call out a warning.
Do not lie there! For this is the Ash!
Rest here and you may never return,
You will be drawn into a glamour.
But her shade is so calming, her welcome so warm!
Put your head on the grass in the mound at her feet
'Neath which her ancient roots are the snake that eats its own tail.
Your mind still aware, might hear the warning; but your body is already caught.
And so you lie down.
The Ash tree sighs her lullaby,
Until the voices in your mind, are fainter than the breeze caught in her leaves.
And soon you sleep
Then he will come….
When he does, you will know him. He will wear a disguise of a love that is old.
Within his blue eyes you will see nothing but truth. But it is all lies.
You are in a glamour.
He will lift you in strong arms, stroke your hair;
At first the last stirring of wisdom, the last of your free will, shall cause you to halt, and stay at his words.
But soon the promise will lull you away.
For you are in a glamour!
He will know you of old, read all of your dreams. Each one will be offered in his loving hands.
The house by the stream, the love of a life; each hope that you had, will be granted.
The promise of truth, and a life without pain; each dream of your childhood, gifted to you.
And all you must do, is yield and love
You must not yield!
You are in a glamour!
But you do.
With each passing hour, he will wrap you more. Cradle you in the false world he has made.
With warmth and with soothing, he takes you away from the harsh winds of life, into his misty day.
Until cocooned in the silk of his loving ways, your soul lies sleeping against reality.
You believe in his words, you believe in his love
But you are in a glamour
All resistance has gone, you are sure, you are safe. So you bare your soul to his embrace.
Then ………Then
And only when you are caught up complete with no will of your own.
And your eye no longer sees the real day
He will raise you up as high as he can.
Then, from the edge of vision ~too late!
You see the great claw, and you see your fate …as the white dragon strikes.
And he cuts you complete. Ripping body from soul.
And he leaves~
Sated
You look down to see, that you have been sliced. From ear to ear, from throat to groin.
Your soul spills out on the ground in that place, where the mound conceals the root of the Ash.
The snake devouring herself.
The pain wakens you to dreadful day. You know you have slept, in the forbidden world.
You drag yourself with the last of your strength, away from the bole, away from the Ash.
Away from the leaf breezing treachery.
Weakened and hurt, with your life blood gone, you crawl until you can see in the mist
The outstretched arms of the friends you once knew.
Who had waited in worry at the loss of you.
They gather your broken soul from the grass, but you need only say, to make them see.
I was in a glamour!
I slept beneath the Ash
Because I could not see the wood for the trees
An Ash Tree Legend By: Fiona Siobhan Powell
If you cannot see the wood for the trees,
You may find yourself drawn on the brightest of days, by the colours that sing against a blue sky.
In the woods, there is one that might whisper your name.
A tree that stands tall, leaves brushing the air, breezing a welcome, and drawing you in.
Without thought you will stumble, until your back rests against her bole.
Her bitter sap will begin to ensnare you, dripping poison into your ear
As you sink onto the grass beneath her, a voice from the past will call out a warning.
Do not lie there! For this is the Ash!
Rest here and you may never return,
You will be drawn into a glamour.
But her shade is so calming, her welcome so warm!
Put your head on the grass in the mound at her feet
'Neath which her ancient roots are the snake that eats its own tail.
Your mind still aware, might hear the warning; but your body is already caught.
And so you lie down.
The Ash tree sighs her lullaby,
Until the voices in your mind, are fainter than the breeze caught in her leaves.
And soon you sleep
Then he will come….
When he does, you will know him. He will wear a disguise of a love that is old.
Within his blue eyes you will see nothing but truth. But it is all lies.
You are in a glamour.
He will lift you in strong arms, stroke your hair;
At first the last stirring of wisdom, the last of your free will, shall cause you to halt, and stay at his words.
But soon the promise will lull you away.
For you are in a glamour!
He will know you of old, read all of your dreams. Each one will be offered in his loving hands.
The house by the stream, the love of a life; each hope that you had, will be granted.
The promise of truth, and a life without pain; each dream of your childhood, gifted to you.
And all you must do, is yield and love
You must not yield!
You are in a glamour!
But you do.
With each passing hour, he will wrap you more. Cradle you in the false world he has made.
With warmth and with soothing, he takes you away from the harsh winds of life, into his misty day.
Until cocooned in the silk of his loving ways, your soul lies sleeping against reality.
You believe in his words, you believe in his love
But you are in a glamour
All resistance has gone, you are sure, you are safe. So you bare your soul to his embrace.
Then ………Then
And only when you are caught up complete with no will of your own.
And your eye no longer sees the real day
He will raise you up as high as he can.
Then, from the edge of vision ~too late!
You see the great claw, and you see your fate …as the white dragon strikes.
And he cuts you complete. Ripping body from soul.
And he leaves~
Sated
You look down to see, that you have been sliced. From ear to ear, from throat to groin.
Your soul spills out on the ground in that place, where the mound conceals the root of the Ash.
The snake devouring herself.
The pain wakens you to dreadful day. You know you have slept, in the forbidden world.
You drag yourself with the last of your strength, away from the bole, away from the Ash.
Away from the leaf breezing treachery.
Weakened and hurt, with your life blood gone, you crawl until you can see in the mist
The outstretched arms of the friends you once knew.
Who had waited in worry at the loss of you.
They gather your broken soul from the grass, but you need only say, to make them see.
I was in a glamour!
I slept beneath the Ash
Because I could not see the wood for the trees
A Winter's Tale
Folklore Behind the Ash.
This story was based on pieces from many legends regarding the Ash tree, and the tree's compliance with the
creatures of the otherworld, whose intent is to lure mortals into physical and emotional traps.
Many of you who regularly listen to my stories, will have heard the stories of men charmed under the Ash, who barely
escape with their souls.~ offered temptations, and then left as empty shells.
Or charmed away only to return to find their world gone, that they have slept for hundreds of years.
Herla is one such tale.
Alas! Wisdom is no charm against the power of the Ash, both Taliesin and Merlin were charmed away under an Ash
tree ...Merlin was then taken by Vivienne it is said, never to return. But the Ash is an equal opportunity charmer! A
Woman may also become ensnared. And as the leaves and the bitter bark of the Ash were said to be a good remedy for
women suffering from menstrual problems, or menopausal symptoms, it seems appropriate that a woman be as likely
to seek the Ash as any man.
I wove many folklore traditions regarding the Ash into the little tale.
I am going to leave you to find and enjoy them.
However , if you wonder ~ just call or write, and I shall be happy to confirm or discuss the symbolism.
This story was based on pieces from many legends regarding the Ash tree, and the tree's compliance with the
creatures of the otherworld, whose intent is to lure mortals into physical and emotional traps.
Many of you who regularly listen to my stories, will have heard the stories of men charmed under the Ash, who barely
escape with their souls.~ offered temptations, and then left as empty shells.
Or charmed away only to return to find their world gone, that they have slept for hundreds of years.
Herla is one such tale.
Alas! Wisdom is no charm against the power of the Ash, both Taliesin and Merlin were charmed away under an Ash
tree ...Merlin was then taken by Vivienne it is said, never to return. But the Ash is an equal opportunity charmer! A
Woman may also become ensnared. And as the leaves and the bitter bark of the Ash were said to be a good remedy for
women suffering from menstrual problems, or menopausal symptoms, it seems appropriate that a woman be as likely
to seek the Ash as any man.
I wove many folklore traditions regarding the Ash into the little tale.
I am going to leave you to find and enjoy them.
However , if you wonder ~ just call or write, and I shall be happy to confirm or discuss the symbolism.