Three Ways of Looking at a Druid by Rosanne Ehrlich Druid Scholar: Their history is long-lived but doubted Their secrets were a threat to facts And all along the truth was shrouded. They danced in forests and dark caves Were scorned in Greco-Roman times Yet to them Northern peoples prayed. Some found courage in their dance For some the message brought relief As it opened up a great expanse. It was the soul’s eternal portal Which allowed a life to end While the soul remained immortal.” Druid Devotee: My long-ago love draws me deep, down transparent paths worm smooth by infinite entries into our medieval forest. And I, diaphanous, go, all air and shimmer to slip between great gnarled oaks displaying growths from old invasions until I am stopped at the edge of dark, before the waiting clearing that is green with god-hair growing in the pulsing loam. Here the druid dances, half-frantic and pauses, half civil, to give welcome to me, his beloved indulgence, my long-ago love. Former Druid: Dance? Times been tough There’s YouTube And all that stuff So not too many Druids join us. There are a few Maybe one or two who come from other places, Non-believers lightened up the edge of dark Killing trees to bring the sun in. Benches were taken from the park To seat those wondering And now we put on a show To let the people know That-- not so long ago We danced.
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Rosanne Ehrlich’s works have been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul, Persimmon Tree, Panoplazine, The Voices Project, Quillkeeper’s Press’ Reariing in the Rearview , Vine Leaves Press and Fiftywordstories.
