Lá Bealtaine

Lá Bealtaine
@aladreth
copyright 2007-2012



She said,
"Marry me
this May"

he said,
"Let's try
it out first,"

they had a
broom-stick wedding,
pledged their love
for one year

She wore a red dress
for fertility
they clipped their hair
and buried
it in a silver box
under a Willow tree
where the creek ran

She kept her home
She was no property
of a male,
no, she would stay independent

if they had a child
during that first year
he would raise it
She would be free
from that worry

She brought a box of salt
and a head of garlic
to the door
Goddess Aine blessed
their union

Sister Rowan
danced around the maypole
She tied tight
the phallic symbol
with her colourful ribbons
flowing and flying
around
and around

Flora brought
Nosegays & Tussie Mussies
their buds knotted
and tucked in
baskets and thrown
over the well
and in to the springs

It was a lovely day,
It was a lovely union.

***

What really happened:

She got fat, he left
his dirty underwear
all over the floor,

the hot water tank leaked
consistently enough
to bring them madness,

the mother-in-law
called her a bitch
and said, "Oh, I didn't
mean a bitch-bitch,
I meant she was
like a female dog."

he had his nose in
another girl's fanny,

she joined a sewing circle,
learned how to properly cast
a spell that would make him choke
on pears

which he never ate anyway
so what good was it.