The Poddington Project: Christine DeWinter

The Fairie Museline

i.

Sisters twain, beside a river
angling on a summer's day.
Rosa sweet and Sylvie clever
never guessing that their play
would lure a creature of past time--
tricksy faerie Museline.

ii.

Twisting 'mongst the reeds and rushes
came the faerie to dry land
where she rose and broke the water
surfacing upon the strand.
Droplets flew like diamonds fine
from the faerie Museline.

iii.

Sylvie gaped to see the lady
Sparkling in the summer noon--
Rosamund, though, knew the dangers
of approaching much too soon
this shining lady, banked in thyme
upon the shore--this Museline.

iv.

'Sisters two, in tartalan,
take from me a single kiss
and you will live your days in youth
and know not age, but only bliss.
This gift I offer is all mine,'
quoth the lady Museline.

v.

Entranced by the faerie's words
the elder sister started forth.
Red-lipped Sylvie, pleasure hungry
took the lady at face worth--
basking sleepy in the shine
of the fair one, Museline.

vi.

Rosamund, though, ever wary
Caught poor Sylvie by the arm.
'Sister, do not trust this lady
she would do us grievous harm.
Be not seduced, sister mine
by this faerie, Museline.'.

vii.

'Fair she is, with tresses flaxen,
porcelain and soft her skin
but the lady's comely image
hides deception deep within.
Kisses foul, though sweet as wine
hath the faerie Museline.'

viii.

Museline, amused, smiling,
looked with longing at the girls.
'Sylvie, sweetling, won't you come to
run your hands through my lush curls
and taste a kiss a sweet as wine?'
asked the faerie Museline.

ix.

From the muddy depths, a serpent,
seeking sweetmeats for a feast
caring not if it were human
faerie-kind, or mere dumb beast
slithered slowly up behind
the unsuspecting Museline.

x.

Rosamund, the quicker-thinking
grasped a rock and chucked it wide,
where it landed 'pon the serpent
with deadly aim, and there it died.
Sparing thusly, for a time
the surprised faerie, Museline.

xi.

'A stalwart deed deserves reward,'
mused the lady in tones soft
'A faerie magic shall I give.
I do not grant my favors oft--
but you are favored, sisters fine
by the faerie Museline.'

xii.

'This chaunt I give for desperate times--
magic for your darkest hours--
speak it from the highest mound
only when danger o'erpowers.
To say these words will place a bind
Upon the faerie Museline.'

xiii.

Upon the bank, that sunny hour
the faerie forged with words of fire
the magic chaunt into their minds
for when future needs were dire.
Sealed by scent of fragrant thyme--
the bargain made with Museline.

xiv.

With swift years, their youth flew by,
and, as sisters, when they'd grown
time found one more fair than 'tother:
the younger sister far outshone
her Sylvie, though she paid no mind.
Not forgotten, Museline.

xv.

Sylvie, jealous, walked one morning
to the highest hill around
spoke the words the faerie gave her
and they drifted from the mound.
Sharp and sly, they went to find
the wily faerie Museline.

xvi.

'Lovely faerie, I do call
with this chaunt I knowing bind,
Rosa's fair, but make me fairer--
fairest of all in men's minds
A'hrand di p'fadi hyn
Aid me, lady Museline!'

xvii.

There she waited for response
and, in tones that made her freeze
in a chilling, frigid voice
came a whisper on the breeze:
You will come, and in due time
to the faerie Museline.

xviii.

Lightning cracked, beneath her feet
the mound did toss and shake and roil.
Betrayed for trivial beauty's sake
she disappeared into the soil
doomed to serve, for all time
the angry faerie Museline.

xix.

Heedful of her sister's folly
Rosamund stayed sober still.
Not for trivial aspirations
dared she step upon the hill--
fearful of the faerie-kind,
she minded Lady Museline.

xx.

One fine day, a direful beacon
settled still upon the town:
cloudfall dark the daylight covered
winter's chill fell all around.
This in gladsome summertime
As when they met her--Museline.

xxi.

From the east they came in number
dreadful bogies, dark and black
though the townsfolk went to battle
they were simply beaten back.
And Rosamund, she kept in mind
the promise made by Museline.

xxii.

The bogies loudly came to town
to chase the people from their homes
the children they would separate
to give as meals to their gnomes
but Rosamund, she would dare mind
the warning left by Museline.

xxiii.

The bogies fouled but what they touched
the river, stinking, dried to dust.
The town would die without more aid
And Rosamund, she knew she must
at last unto the hill she'd climb
to call the faerie Museline.

xxiv.

With trepidation she went forth
and put her foot upon the mound.
When the summit she had reached
she called loudly, stood her ground,
'A'hrand di p'fadi hyn
Aid me, lady Musline!'

xxv.

In the distance, horns and pipes
sounded 'cross the blighted land
and 'midst a sea of banners bright
rode forth the shining faerie band.
Riding on a steed white fine
sat the lady Museline.

xxvi.

Bedecked brightly in her finery
the faerie was a sight to see--
no less lovely for the time passed
for faerie time plays tricks, you see.
'I have come, and in due time,'
cried the lady Museline.

xxvii.

The battle lasted for an hour
the bogies, vanquished, disappeared
and after them the faeries vanished.
But Rosamund, she was afeared
that she'd never have the time
to thank the faerie Museline.

xxviii.

The hill it opened, rumbling low
to form an arch built out of stone.
Through it, stumbling, wrinked, slow
came an aged, crooked crone.
Every wrinkle, every line
bore the mark of Museline.

xxix.

'Sister, Sylvie, is that you?
Disappeared these seven-year!'
The aged one nodded--it was true
and down her cheeks did roll a tear
for tricks are played in faerie time
where dwells the faerie Museline.

xxx.

And so it's said the sisters went
home to spend their years in pair
Sylvie sat in silence mostly,
suffering her sister's care.
Neither one was much inclined
to call upon fair Museline.

xxxi.

When spending lazy summer days
to dream 'mongst fragrant banks of thyme
watch for faeries shining brightly
and avoid them, if you've time.
Especially the lady fine
the lovely, tricksy, Museline.

(Vance Briceland)