Gemini Rising

Yule Poetry Day 7 - Befana

This is written for:

FORUM

12 Poetic Days of Yuletide  (E) 12 different Poetry styles beginning December 21st- January 1st. #2329171 by Witchy Yule Woman

Prompt ▶︎

The Christmas Witch known as La Befana comes from an Italian legend connected to the birth of Jesus. Her name derived from the Greek word for Epiphany. Legend has it that the Three Magi stopped at La Befana’s home on their way to find the baby Jesus. She tries to follow them without luck. To this day, she travels the skies on her broom looking for baby Jesus.
Stopping at each home, she flies down the chimney to leave gifts for the children including a lump of coal. Being a good housekeeper, she will sweep the floor with her broomstick before she leaves, sweeping away of the problems of the year.
Midwinter was a time for storytelling, magic and casting divinations. Who better than the benevolent witch La Befana to represent this time and find her way into Christian myth.

The Florette, created by Jan Turner, consists of two or more 4-line stanzas.
Rhyme scheme: a,a,b,a
Meter: 8,8,8,12
Fourth line requirement of internal (b) rhyme scheme, on syllable 8.

Like the outgrowing of a small flower, the fourth line of each stanza is longer, and enwraps the previous lines. Line #4 requires an internal rhyme scheme that rhymes the eighth syllable with the end of line #3, and continues to add on four more syllables than the other lines so that the fourth line ends rhyming with lines #1 and #2.

LaBefana is your topic.

LaBefana

Midwinter cold and clear skies above
A witch follows there: life, luck and love.
A wind whips up, dust in the air
LaBefana is lost, caught in a snare, her clue a dove.

On her swift broom up high she spies
another chimney, fresh baked pies
Gifts and coal and very a very clean sweep
A baby with n'ery a peep is her sweet prize.

Lost and alone Befana seeks out
Elusive those three, she plays scout.
One day she'll find baby plus three,
On her sturdy broomstick care free, a heartfelt shout.