SAGA OF THE WOOD OF WHISPERS

During one of my first visits

to the Land On The Rim Of Time

I found a road that seemed inviting

soon I came upon a hillside.

All around the wind blew gently,

on this hillside it was biting

mean and cold and without mercy

like an evil being haunting.

On the ground lay branches broken,

rowan-trees, and oaks, and birches

and they spoke with breaking voices:

"Seal the wind with words unspoken!"

Seal the wind with words unspoken?

First I thought they might be joking.

But the raging wind was real

and the voices went on talking:

"We were promised as a token

someone of your kind to help us.

Seal the wind with words unspoken!

Let our wooden souls be wakened!

If you do we'll pay you dearly

Each time when you're sad and weary

Our leaves will bring you comfort

When they sing with words unspoken."

So I tried to think of stillness,

to imagine summer evenings

when nature holds its breath and when

the air is filled with lovely silence.

But the wind just blew with violence

as if to scorn my hopeless failure

and I grieved because I couldn't

seal the wind with words unspoken.

Desperate I threw the branches,

scattering them all around me.

Then the withered leaves fell softly

patterning the words unspoken.

Suddenly the wind was changing

and I looked around in wonder

for the trees stood all unbroken

by a warm breeze gently stroken.

And since then I go there often

and each time my heart rejoices.

It is called the Wood of Whispers

and it sings with words unspoken.

Cecilia Wennerström