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Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com
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BLESSED BE AGAIN!
-Joe Bethancourt
(c) copyright 1992 W.J. Bethancourt III
(Tune: "One Misty Moisty Morning" (Trad.)
Upon a dark and windy hill, As I walked out one May morning,
On Samhain's eldritch night T'was on the blooming heather
I saw the Crone with withered hands I saw a Maiden dancing there,
By balefire's burning light In fair and sunny weather
Her eyes were full of wisdom, The Beltane fires were burning high,
The threads of life she span The dancers round did spin
And sang "Blessed Be! And Blessed Be! They sang "Blessed Be! And Blessed Be!
And Blessed Be again!" And Blessed Be again!"
As I walked out on Yuletide, Upon Midsummer's heady day,
The winter winds blew cold I saw John Barleycorn
I saw the Winter King a-standing, Walking proud and tall there
Grey and grim and old In the sunny shining morn
His cloak was pulled around him, His beard was long and golden,
A Child was in his hand He looked at me and then
And he sang "Blessed Be! And Blessed Be! He sang "Blessed Be! And Blessed Be!
And Blessed Be again!" And Blessed Be again!"
Upon the morn of Brigit's Day, Upon a singing Summer day,
I saw a lovely sight At dawn on Lammastide
The Goddess standing by me, I saw the Craftsman smiling,
All crowned in starry light On sunbeams he did ride
The crescent Moon beneath her feet, He brings us light and knowledge,
The stars were in her hand To help our fellow men
She sang "Blessed Be! And Blessed Be! He sang "Blessed Be! And Blessed Be!
And Blessed Be again!" And Blessed Be again!"
Upon the first of April, Upon a chilly autumn day,
I saw the Holy Fool All sheltered from the storm
He was a merry prankster, I saw the Harvest safe at home,
The Lord of all Misrule! The families snug and warm
He looked at me, and winked an eye, They sat and gave their thanks,
And danced and sang and then And they laughed and smiled and then
He sang "Blessed Be! And Blessed Be! They sang "Blessed Be! And Blessed Be!
And Blessed Be again!" And Blessed Be again!"
Ostara came with blossoms, The Spiral Dance goes on and on,
Life flourished everywhere The King and Youth and Child
I saw the Mother smiling, The Gentle Mother, Aged Crone,
With flowers in Her hair And Maiden meek and mild
She stood among the growing fields, And so the Yearly Circle
In heather and in glen Turns in eternal spin
And sang "Blessed Be! And Blessed Be! So sing "Blessed Be! And Blessed Be!
And Blessed Be again!" And Blessed Be again!"
And "Merry Meet! And Merry Part!
And Merry Meet Again!"
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HARP SONG OF THE DANE WOMEN
-Rudyard Kipling
What is a woman that you forsake her?
and the hearth fire, and the home-acre?
to go with the old, grey Widow-Maker?
She has no house to lay a guest in
but one chill bed for all to rest in
that the pale suns and the stray bergs nest in
She has no strong white arms to fold you
but the ten times fingering weeds to hold you
out on the rocks where the tide has rolled you
Yet, when the signs of Summer thicken
and the ice breaks and the birch-buds quicken
yearly you turn from our side and sicken
Sicken again for the shouts and the slaughters
you steal away to the lapping waters
and look at your ship in her winter quarters
You forget our mirth, and talk at the tables
the kine in the shed and the horse in the stables
to pitch her sides and go over her cables...
Then you drive out where the storm clouds swallow
and the sound of your oar-blades, falling hollow
is all we have left through the months to follow
Ah...but what is a woman that you forsake her?
and the hearth fire, and the home-acre?
to go with the old, grey Widow-maker?
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