Hunter Moon, stark orb in silent stage,
lights a way lost by day, to folly’s repose.
Stone wiggled loose, a puff of dust,
candle bright as shadows sway. Intoned
promises, from ashes you spark to life.
Dark price paid for this one blessed night.
Image was taken last year at Felt Mansion.
Sarah is today’s host of dVerse’ Quadrille Monday. Sarah says:
So tonight let’s write some ash quadrilles – 44 words, including the word ash.
Tao Talk 
I’m not quite sure what’s going on here. I like that – there’s a sense of mystery, some midnight ritual, lights flickering in the darkness. Perfect for this time of year, as we edge into the long nights of winter.
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I wanted to make it so the person visited their dearly departed one night a year and bring them back to life — at the cost of her soul — but I couldn’t make the word count fit. This is the time of the year, you’re right, when the nights are crisp and the moon shines bright.
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That’s a lot of intensity to fit into 44 words!
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I’d never heard of Hunter moon. I know it as Harvest Moon, as in the song
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Larry, there’s a lot of info out there on the Hunter Moon (which is in 2 days.) Here’s one quickly found random website with info on it. https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/hunters.html
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Thanks I’ll have to find out about it
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You’re welcome.
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The mystery in this is so interesting… it sounds like a ritual for that hunter moon…
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Bjorn, I love that interpretation! ❤
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This sounds the start of one helluva curse.
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Perhaps! I hope not, but you never know…
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A phoenix night. Nice one
Much💜love
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Yes! Thank you, Gillena ❤
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The wish to have a dear dear loved one come back to us….even if for one night. What would one pay to have that occur? Your last line indicates the depth of love….the heavy price paid.
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You definitely see the situation and all of its ripples. Thank you for reading and your insightful comment, Lillian.
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I also wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but I also thought like Björn, that it was a ritual for the moon. It’s lovely though.
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Thanks, Merril 🙂
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You’re welcome!
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Reads like a moon incantation with that puff of dust. Good one!
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Thank you, Grace 🙂
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I love the image of “Intoned promises,” a very powerfully composed quadrille, Lisa! 💝💝
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Sanaa, thank you 🙂 ❤
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You know how much I love the macabre and sinister – a desperation and delight to hold in my palm, like so much dust in the wind.
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Thank you for the chilling response 🙂
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There is a strong sense of foreboding in your words. (K)
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The prayer “ashes to ashes, precedes Resurrection. A quadrille can tie your hands. I spend more time cutting my work down, than I did writing it.
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Thanks for reading and your comment, Glenn.
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I thought of trees giving their lives so you could have a fire-lit night of fun and fancy. I know it wasn’t the intent, but the end took me there!
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Phillip, I think sacrifices were made, why not trees? Thanks for the feedback on where it took you!
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This line was my favorite: “Stone wiggled loose, a puff of dust” It leaves so much to the imagination in so few words. Enjoyed the mystery of this love spell of sorts!
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Tricia, thank you! I’m glad you connected with it in that way and that you enjoyed the mystery.
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Welcome! 🌷
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You’re creeping me out here, Lisa 😉
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You know the “folly” image and the vibe I got when I was there was quite creepy. No way no how would I go anywhere near that place on the night of the Hunter Moon!
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An enjoyable read. Such mystery in this piece. Nicely done.
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Thank you, Arcadia!
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Very mysterious indeed.
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Thank you, Silver Gardenia.
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Mysterious goings on Li. Very well written to entice our imagination.
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Exactly, Sadje. Thank you.
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You’re welcome
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A wonder-full piece Lisa! 🙂
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Rob, thank you 🙂
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An interesting poem. Promises from the ashes! A one night stand??
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Dwight, there have been a lot of guesses on this one, your guess is as good as any. It’s a mystery that only the reader can solve… Thank you for reading and your wondering.
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You are a puzzler!
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🙂
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Suitably spooky for the time of year, Lisa!
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Thank you, Ingrid!
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That feeling of dark ritual, of something supernatural, is very chilling Lisa.
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Thank you, Marion, it is!
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evocative is definitely the first word that comes to my mind after reading this several times, Lisa… the “price” leaves me very curious!
❤
David
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Thanks for reading, David. I’m glad I got your curiosity going.
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I was intrigued by the image. It obviously relates to the poem, but I can’t work out what it is.
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The image is where the path leads her. It’s a folly built behind and down the hill from The Felt Mansion, reported to be haunted. If you want to learn more about the place:
https://www.feltmansion.org/
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Oh, I see! Thank you 🙂
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🙂
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The ways lost to day often seem to lead to this place of ashes. Great work with the form–short, sharp and full of mood.
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Thank you very much, Joy, for your insightful comment.
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Very mysterious, as if a macabre spell is being cast.
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Something dark is afoot for sure…
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Super spooky, Lisa. Thinks for the shivers.
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Thanks, K!
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I love the mystery in your words Lisa.
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Thank you, Linda 🙂
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You’re welcome my friend.
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Spooky, Lisa, mysteriously so.
pax,
dora
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Indeed! Thank you, Dora.
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oooh intriguing Lisa!💖
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Thank you, Cindy 🙂
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You’re welcome Lisa!💖
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The poem is as oniums as the image.
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Thank you, Max. It’s a structure that would be scary to be anywhere near at night.
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ominous! I spelled it close but auto correct took over!
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I knew what you meant. They say Felt Mansion is haunted. Bad things happened there. Local legend says creatures lurk in the nearby woods!
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I love local legends and their sources…for us a few miles up the road it’s the Bell Witch.
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What’s the story on the Bell Witch?
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It’s in the county next to mine. Its a spirit that haunted the Bell family for many centuries I think. I knew about it when I was a kid.
https://sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com/tsla/exhibits/myth/bellwitch.htm
It’s probably the number 1 ghost story here.
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Wow I just read the whole story. Have you ever gone to that cave?
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When I was a kid my sister tried to get me to go…I wouldn’t because I was too scared. I would go now of course…I would love to go and may talk Jen into that.
That would be fun.
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