Ninth Night - By: Michaela Macha
Lake Michigan, WI. Courtesy of Bress G. Nicneven
Eerie the wind between the worlds
As I hung on that nameless Tree;
Long had I heard its leaves whisper,
"Seeker, would you know more ?"
My heart´s desire dearly was won,
Not easy I gave what was asked:
Dreadful the price that I dared to pay
As I offered myself to myself.
Given, in mid-air uprooted I swung
Swayed by the whims of the wind;
Piercing through me the bitter spear,
More aching my will to grow wise.
No water they gave me; burning my thirst,
More burning for knowledge my need;
Hungry for bread, more craving my soul
To be sated with secrets of Life.
Searing the sun during the days,
Empty the endless nights;
The starless void devoured what I was
As I faced my last agony alone.
My mind meandered the mystery mazes -
My flesh writhed tied to the Tree;
My soul grasped all the wisdom of ages -
My body bloodied the bark.
Yielding myself, I gained all I yearned for,
Dying, I danced into life;
Wounded I was - leechcraft I learned then:
Whole and hale I became.
With a shattering shout that shook the realms
My fetters I burst and was free;
And through an abyss of rapture and bliss
Into Earth´s embrace I fell down.
I have ridden the Tree - I have made it my mount,
All riddles and runes I now sing.
And you who seek wisdom, will you dare the Tree
When it whispers, "Would you know more?"
As I hung on that nameless Tree;
Long had I heard its leaves whisper,
"Seeker, would you know more ?"
My heart´s desire dearly was won,
Not easy I gave what was asked:
Dreadful the price that I dared to pay
As I offered myself to myself.
Given, in mid-air uprooted I swung
Swayed by the whims of the wind;
Piercing through me the bitter spear,
More aching my will to grow wise.
No water they gave me; burning my thirst,
More burning for knowledge my need;
Hungry for bread, more craving my soul
To be sated with secrets of Life.
Searing the sun during the days,
Empty the endless nights;
The starless void devoured what I was
As I faced my last agony alone.
My mind meandered the mystery mazes -
My flesh writhed tied to the Tree;
My soul grasped all the wisdom of ages -
My body bloodied the bark.
Yielding myself, I gained all I yearned for,
Dying, I danced into life;
Wounded I was - leechcraft I learned then:
Whole and hale I became.
With a shattering shout that shook the realms
My fetters I burst and was free;
And through an abyss of rapture and bliss
Into Earth´s embrace I fell down.
I have ridden the Tree - I have made it my mount,
All riddles and runes I now sing.
And you who seek wisdom, will you dare the Tree
When it whispers, "Would you know more?"
