First frost-breath of Autumn (II)

(Continued from Part I)

…It led us on, towards a pedestal
which held us in its thrall
amongst the ivy, hidden by the tall
surrounding trees, loftily arching, standing sentinel
that seemed to usher us towards the weather-beaten wall
where, above all

the line, clear as the day was fair
spoke its strange message here, and everywhere
or so it seemed to us, intent to hear
its ancient wisdom, poetry and lore:

There was a doorway in the ancient stone
carved like a druid-bone
which opened with a creak, and with a groan
we peered inside to stairs which led within, beyond, and down
and down we went, into a land unknown
where darkness shone.

That line, within the ancient tomb
became a light to lead us through the gloom
into the green-lit confines of the dene
to hold court with a sprite, or elfin queen

she had been playing here upon her lyre
beside a woodland fire
and her strange lyric ode had led us on, through wood and briar
to this small clearing, where we knelt to hear
her elfin song, which echoed in the air
around her lair

that line, which now became her gift to us
she spoke strange words, as I recall them, thus:
“It is the line I followed all my life:
I hope it brings you more of joy than strife.”

With apologies to Edmund Spenser.