Hi Everyone
Due to workload commitments, my scheduled guest has had to postpone. Rather than leave the slot empty I thought I’d share ‘Lady of the Woods’, one of my favourite mythical tree poems I wrote as part of my MA dissertation.
‘Lady of the Woods’ was first published by Reach Magazine, Indigo Dreams Publishing, in November 2018. It is also included in my upcoming poetry pamphlet ‘Taxus Baccata’ by Hedgehog Poetry Press. Enjoy. Let me know what you think.
Lady of the Woods
She stretches towards the stars,
heart-shaped foliage dances,
airy, pendulous branches sway.
Gently I peel away
paper-thin white crusts
patterned with black crevices.
I burn the bark
under moonlight
to keep Isolde warm.
Sapphire flames mesmerise,
crackles soothe.
We inhale timbered scent,
drink clear, sweet sap
and wintergreen tea.
I spread a red sheet
onto the clay ground,
ease Isolde down,
caress her shoulders.
We take our final offering,
the promise of fertility,
gifted by the Lady of the Woods.
Patricia M Osborne 
Hi Tricia,
I enjoyed your poem, airy and delicate. Is it based on Tristan and Isolde? I also feel the two may be fairies?
Thanks Francesca
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Hi Francesca, thank you. No the poem is based on the myth where the silver birch is known as the Lady of the Woods and linked with fertility and new birth. I chose the name Isolde because I liked it and nothing to do with Tristan and Isolde.
Thank you for commenting.
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