In the dark enchanted forest,
grim shadows danced and played
as the sun peeped through the trees
onto an old worn path that led
to the embittered hag’s abode.
From a tender young age,
she’d been a fair child,
raised by her stepmother,
upon the death of her father,
rest his soul,
killed in the jaws of a giant wolf
that roamed the woodland,
she’d sworn that day,
that she would have its hide.
For many years she dabbled
In the dark arts,
donning the cloak of the witch
chanting from a spell book,
with many mishaps along the way,
turning her stepbrother
into a stout troll
and her stepsister into a hen
but she never gave up
One dark Winter’s night
as snow blanketed the land,
carried on ill wind from the east,
a peasant graced her doorstep,
seeking shelter for the night,
a handsome fellow indeed,
poor of wealth, but a heart of gold.
She quickly ushered him inside,
sitting him before the hearth
and stoked the embers to flame
‘Aye, ye are a kind lassie, to be sure’
the last word rolling off his tongue
in a burr that made her heart flutter.
A passion rose in her
like she had never felt before
‘Could this be love?’ she wondered
‘Oh wooer of woman-folk,
my name is Lily West and prithey tell sir,
what is thy name?’ she asked bashfully,
offering him an apple,
in a manner befitting Eve’s
first temptation in Eden.
‘My name is Ranulf Lyall’
He fixed her with a predatory grin
and bit heartily into the apple.
Days turned to weeks,
weeks turned to months,
and soon, Winter passed to spring,
Lilly lovingly tended house
as Ranulf hunted by night,
they were betrothed,
they were so in love.
She thanked the Heavens
that they should bestow
such blessing upon her
Until one fateful night,
A mighty howl echoed
through the woodland valley,
freezing the blood in her veins,
fear gripping the pit of her stomach
into uneasy knots of dread.
Dear sweet Ranulf
was hunting this night,
that alone, gave her strength,
as her horror grew to rage
The wicked beast would not
take another she loved,
she held her spell book to her heart,
uttering an incantation of protection
and ran into the night
‘Show thyself, beast, I fear thee not’
The giant wolf dropped
on its haunches before her,
its sinewy brawn taut,
beneath the gaze of the full moon.
But it did not leap,
it simply padded a circle
and lay before her.
‘What art thou waiting for, brute?
doth thou toy with me?
Hast thou not tormented me enough?
Fight me…’
She kicked it hard in the ribs and
it winced through sorrowful eyes
‘Nay, Lassie, I wish thee no harm’
it growled. ‘Forgive me, my love’
‘Ranulf?’ she took a step back…
‘Aye Lassie, it is I’
‘You killed my father?’ she wept.
‘I was new, the beast was all consuming,
I had no control, I was lost to its blood lust,
t’was my wish that I may right the wrong
I hath bestowed upon thee,
if thou wouldst wish my hide
then I shalt fight thee not’
Her mind reeled at the implications
of his words, tears stinging her cheeks.
‘I shalt not kill thee, my love’ she sobbed,
taking a step towards him
‘Step back from the beast, miss’
a desperate voice cried.
Suddenly, numerous musket shots rang out,
echoing throughout the land.
The wolf yelped and writhed
amidst the onslaught of bullets,
his blood soaking into the soil around him
as villagers came into view,
muskets raised as they approached
‘No… no… Ranulf???’ she knelt at his side
her tears falling like Autumn rain.
His bones cracked and his skin
retracted fur, as his face
became familiar in the features
she had so grown to love.
He reached up and stroked her cheek
‘Always know, I truly adored thee, my love’
he uttered with his dying breath
and was lost to quietus.
She roared a racking cry
as a hand touched her shoulder.
‘Its over now, miss’ said the proud villager.
‘Over… OVER??? Thou hast made me a widow Sir’
Her irises flashed red as she stood,
forming a dark aura around her,
storm clouds quickly gathered
in a rage filled night sky.
The ground quaked and villagers ran in fear
as she rose into the air above them,
a true mistress of the dark arts,
wrath shimmering off her in waves.
Lightning cracked, smiting villagers in its wake
and so she grinned,
fully embracing the darkness of her fury.
Many years have since passed
in the dark enchanted forest,
And still, the grim shadows dance and play
as the sun peeps through the trees
onto the old worn path that leads
to the embittered hag’s abode.
Author notes
Prompt: 10 Words must be used in your poem from the word bank below:
Forest Grim Sun Path Widow Moon Stepmother Fellow Hag Woodland East West Stepbrother Wind Rose Stepsister Hearth Lassie Troll Gold Peasant Flame Hen Tongue Poor Rain Snow Wicked Witch Cloak Bestow Giant Wolf Wooer Apple Worn Ember Stout Lily Fair Brawn Handsome Love Betrothed Soul Spell
Hope you don't mind, kinda got a tad carried away & used them all, ended up more epic than I expected too... 
Pic: http://www.werewolves.info/sites/Werewolf6.jpg
BG: http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/3800000/bad-ass-werewolf-werewolves-3893741-800-600.jpg
In a list
A contest entry
- Witches by Voodoo Eyes.
900 points, ended July 3, 18 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Sinister Beasts by Miss Macabre.
550 points, ended June 23, 14 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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This is a good poem, long but very entertaining. I like werewolves, yet I've yet to read a werewolf love story! Very creative, good luck!
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wow. awesome, u are very talented. by far my favorite!!! i love werewolves!!!! lol cool poem dude. XP
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This is a wonderful story and poem. Thank you for entering!
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a good piece, what can one say after reading something like this, excellently penned. love has a strange twist sometimes.
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Incredible story! I felt like I was there, and the images just came so easily to mind. This is well told. It has that mystical quality about it, as if you've come from a dream after reading it. Keep writing, I always enjoy your work.
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amazing
wow what a tragic story....was gripped from start to finish, the bitterness in the witch is great....sad she ends up an old and alone hag.....damn those villiagers....nice one fritz......xx -
I love this bro...it is a haunting poem. Poor wolfie....
Your background is perfect for this write.
Such a blessed and talented one you are!!!
Love your sis...
Az
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You have such a gift for
story telling, I could not be
more entrhalled , even by a novel best seller!
Thank you for sharing,
and best wishes in the contest!
Always impressed,
~Pastel
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Bro another amazingly dark write
The story held me captive to the very end.
Good luck to you
keep the dark ink lowing
fire
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Oh my ! you are the Prince of Darkness Fritz
awesome as ever and gave the good olde English a run for its money
well done
best wishes
Julie x
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What a journey you have taken me on my darling Bruv. This is amazing. I know your work so well that I had a feeling of what might happen. You didn't disappoint me. This is cleverly penned, heart breaking but tender and so sad. Well done
Mariana
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Wow again I cannot say anything more than that you did a wonderful job
I love the atmosphere and your chhoice of words
I love it it makes me want to be at this place
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A brilliant story. You have put a lot of work into this and I liked it. It could be a movie with a bit more padding and endless funds. Sheila
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Wow excellent imagery
Your words flow well
Loved your tale
Good luck in the contest
Darky
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