Samhain Enchantment #earthweal

It was late October 2020
and there were all the trappings of modernity:
fibreglass pumpkins spraypainted and belching smoke;
a fairytale tree made to mimic nature
from some forgotten time when all the world was wonder:
Childhood

Orange, aglow, the children’s faces in
the chill October air
eyes and hearts lit by the spectacle:
a drink that fumed with liquid nitrogen;
a haunted galleon;
a Rollercoaster’s corkscrew, dizzy in the sun;
Excalibur plunged deep into the stone

But when the sun went down
true wonders came to light
riding the monorail
at sunset
as Lake Garda glittered into view
below:
such stuff that dreams are made on, and I’m a child again,
still begging on
the threshold of eternity

Later, walking the ancient streets of Lasize
the wonder and the magic of a family
enchanted
still dreaming of a future
bright with possibility, still
trying to pull
Excalibur free

Written for earthweal

For this week’s challenge, Brendan has asked us to:

…describe an enchanted moment. How did you encounter it, what became suddenly alive for you and how did it change you? If there’s a tale in there, lend it the proper narrative scope. Does that enchantment open doors to the world in new or special ways? Can our observations of the non-human be woven enchantingly? (Is there really any other way?) How does enchantment affect our empathic powers, embracing the world more fully and vitally? Can enchanted nature revitalize and radicalize fallen modernity? (I took to walking beneath trees with my eyes up to them in the wake of the calamitous American presidential election last year, and that change of focus truly balanced and stabilized a wild mind.)

I have chosen to write of a family trip to ‘Gardaland’ last year. The italicised lines are from Shakespeare (The Tempest) and (adapted from) Peter Ackroyd’s novel, Hawksmoor, respectively. The latter is a book all about the nature of miracles and wonder (and the dark side of enchantment). It seems fitting for a poem of Halloween.

40 thoughts on “Samhain Enchantment #earthweal

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  1. Ah, your note at the end explains lots about the line breaks. Thanks.
    I viewed it online (I believe that’s how you call it. Meaning, not in the Reader)
    Sorry you’re having WiFi issues. But we all understand these issues. So relax, Ingrid.
    The poem was lovely. Adding that part about trying to pull out the legendary sword from the rock gives it that more fantastical substance. Like thing exist in childhood. Just lovely. Thanks for sharing this. Be well.

    1. Thanks Selma, you too! When I get my WiFi back I plan to tidy it up a bit…good job my other posts this week are already scheduled 😅

      1. Perhaps you’d consider a notation that asks TheReader readers to view this piece online.
        I read it on my phone but hit the 🌎 icon at the bottom. That takes me to your website. That way the line breaks read nicely.
        Just saying so you stop stressing over this one. All the best.

  2. You waken the modern Halloween from itself with an enchanting family passage, the speaker both mother and child once again, devout in the seasonal magic that comes “when the sun goes down.” And still believing in that sword in the stone. Powerful moment and thanks for sharing at earthweal – Brendan

    1. Thank you, Brendan: I’ve just realised that the line breaks don’t appear at all in the Reader! I would take it down and repost later, but not sure for how long I’ll be without WiFi…

  3. You definitely captured the enchantment here, Ingrid.

    I never read anything in Reader, and it wouldn’t even occur to me to check how it looks there. I didn’t realize there was a difference. You are certainly dedicated. I don’t think I’d try it from my phone (and other posts already scheduled). 😀
    Hope you get your WiFi back soon!

    1. Thank you Merril 😊 I’m just hoping it’s back tomorrow when I’m hosting dVerse! There’s a bug in the WordPress app so that when I click on posts via Mr Linky it doesn’t realise I’m already logged in, which makes commenting from my phone a nightmare…

  4. The world is especially crossed with other worlds in October I think, and you have captured that well. The ending image is particularly striking. (K)

      1. It’s not ideal but the writing is so beautiful, hon.

        I embedded my book’s Amazon link in all my posts. As it stand right now something happened between Amazon and WordPress. Most embedded Amazon links are disconnected. My every post has now a hole on it ( where readers where supposed to see my book). I modified my last post but I cannot do this with every post. It’s a nightmare. Sorry for complaining here.
        Have a beautiful week ahead.
        Sending love ❤️

      2. That must be frustrating: no need to apologise. I am sure it will not affect sales of your wonderful book: it is easy to find via an internet search ❤️

      3. Thank you so much Ingrid. It’s not about selling it’s about the way my entire site looks now. I really do not know what to do. Anyway thank you again hon. Happy writing. Can’t wait for your novel to be out. 🌸🌺🌹

      4. Thank you Gabriela! The novel us coming on well 😊 I didn’t notice any problems about the way your site looks ❤️

  5. Family time, pumpkins belching smoke, Shakespeare… many details to love about this one! 😁 Good luck with your Wi-Fi and the Samhain spirits. 👻

    1. Thank you, Michele: I count it as part of the enchantment 🧙‍♀️

      It also allows me to make progress on my novel without getting distracted 😊

  6. It’s such a fun spirited poem and I personally love the pumpkin breaking lines but you know me and my emojis. 🤣. What a fun trip for the fam Ingrid!! I know it’s frustrating but truly it’s a gem of a poem. 💖

    1. I knew you would approve of those Cindy 🎃👻🎃 I could have used a period, but that would’ve been boring 🤣

      Glad you liked the poem 🧡

  7. Oh, this is glorious, to read and envision. I love the wonder, the hope, and still trying to pull Excalibur free.

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