the seer and the witch

the oracle, the golden waters of the future
was seldom misinterpreted, unless by selfish posture
         "my reading was just, unfaltering, in ten days he will die
         exhausted from mourning, like his mate from childbirth; I cannot lie"
the condemned was the prince's firstborn
to lead one day; the future generation was forlorn
the seer, bearer of deathly tidings, wrapped in ceremony
his phoenix shouldered bravely, symbol of hegemony
         "I cannot be wrong!" words spat with pompous acrimony

the prince, received poorly such news
and summoned all his time creators for to choose
among magicians, witches and marabous
the one to find a miracle, the seer's oracle to confuse

the seer loudly protested
magicians failed, their conjuring contested
the seer leered, mercilessly jested
marabou drumming brought no change
the prince's son in agony remained
the seer triumphant, his power retained

after a long wait, a simple miracle took place
powdered four-leaf clover and fairy's lace
drunk four times in two days
his laughing smile paled the sun's rays

furious to have been beaten by a childish spell
the seer predicted the witch would rot in hell
         “That power comes from witchcraft,
         her response is devilish handicraft"
         bellowed the angry seer, his eyes flaring like dragon flame.
the witch of red sunrise spoke with the calm of beginnings, she did declaim
         "This power, witchcraft enhanced, is that of love
         in his sadness he had forgotten the gentle things like a dove
         a butterfly and flower delicately entwined
         the rain making new seedlings into vines
         he has found a calm, sorrow is no longer his strife
         I have simply reminded him of the precious gift of life."

the prince did not ban the seer
but apprenticed him to the witch, to become her peer
his regal rank removed, humbled by his plight
his phoenix quickly disappeared in flight
the witch of red sunrise finally chased him, no spell of fright
peaceful, her royal wedding took place on a new starry night




         the seer and the witch
         18 april, 2006
         (Writer's Cramp)
         (40 lines)