Poetry: The Banshee Caoimheall

Published in Illumen, 2015 - GM

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THE BANSHEE CAOIMHEALL

Aboard a ship translucent to the future

Roams the ragged silver banshee Caoimheall.

Beloved of the dying, she gives succor

Her star-lit rags reclaiming blood and skull. 

Oh come, oh come, she sounds the bugle greeting 

Surrender! Stop your warring. All is ruin.

The fighting dulls forever ageless brilliance

No peace, no rest, no love, no home, no human.

Come with me, she says, follow me below decks

Below that to your refuge underground.

War cannot find you there, it has no entry.

You're healed. You're safe. Just put your sorrow down. 

But no, but no, they say, we are the soldiers! 

Protect our honor, fight and win and more!

You're dead, she says, and all for nothing - listen!

There is no home or honor left to score. 

They follow her, their minds a fog, she shows them

The peace, the cool, the quiet darkness gold.

The ripples in the ether slowly swallow

All trace of every crimson flag unfurled.