The Oak and The Mistletoe
To the ancient druids the oak tree was sacred. An English oak was more sacred, and if it was an English Oak that had accepted mistletoe, that was the most sacred of oaks.
Ancient druids gathered in the grove of oaks on Winter Solstice when a special ritual was performed. The chief druid climbed the oak and lopped the mistletoe which was caught in a white cloak by the other druids. During the ceremony two white bulls were sacrificed and mistletoe was later presented at the altar to the earth goddess to bring ‘fertility to the spirit of the earth’(Paterson, 1996). The white berries signified the sun god’s semen.
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On this Winter Solstice it seems like the perfect time to share my poem ‘The Sacred Tree’. ‘The Sacred Tree’ forms part of my collection about myth, folklore and legend around trees which I plan to publish in 2020.
The Sacred Tree
In a subtle seduction,
Oak welcomes
Mistletoe’s seed.
Evening reddens
the sky as drums beat
to a crescendo.
Entering the grove of oaks,
wreath-crowned druids process
in gold, white, red,
clutching staffs.
One trails, bent,
a stringy silver beard falls
to his knees. He rings a bell.
Seers surround
the sun-god tree,
ivory candles ignite
one by one,
flames flit
in the breeze,
shadows flutter.
Drums mute.
Crickets chirp.
A snowy owl screeches
from a distant trunk.
Heads rise.
Deep breaths echo.
Ah-oo-wen Ah-oo-wen
Ah-oo-wen Ah-oo-wen
Priest, in white, ascends
the oak, unsheathes
the golden sickle strapped
to his back,
lops the stem
bearing milk berries.
Brothers clothed in gold catch
the twig in a cloak.
Ah-oo-wen Ah-oo-wen
Ah-oo-wen Ah-oo-wen
Drums pulsate,
beasts bellow,
eyes focus
on two white bulls
led by the horns.
A red-robed butcher
grips his blade, slits
one bull’s throat
and then the other.
Crimson gore spurts
into the vessels,
metallic stench rises.
Drums cease.
Ah-oo-wen Ah-oo-wen
Ah-oo-wen Ah-oo-wen
Mistletoe glazed
with bulls’ blood
is blessed, offered
before the altar.
Sun-god’s gift of semen
is embraced
by the earth goddess.
Patricia M Osborne © 2018
Patricia M Osborne 
Reblogged this on Write to Inspire and commented:
This is powerful and atmospheric poetry. The sap rises!
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Thank you, Lance. That’s very kind of you x
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Such a beautiful poem. I find it sad that the Druids, like so many other cultures, felt the need to sacrifice animals to their Gods.
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Thank you, Lynette. I think if you go further back that they actually had human sacrifice. Also they considered it a high honour for the bulls.
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Lovely poem, but like so many others animals, or humans should not be sacrificed for religion.
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I couldn’t agree with you more mumdad64 but that was how they did things then. Thank goodness things have changed.
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Wow loved this poem hard to believe they took a bulls life I’m happy that these things are less common can’t sit to read the book. When I was reading I felt a novel could be made from this poem truly amazing thank you Patricia doll for sharing
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My pleasure. Glad you liked the poem.
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