Witching Hour

 A baby was born at the witching hour.
Three in the morning;
a storm raging outside.
The baby was breech in her mother.
The midwife pulled her into the world.

Mother and child survived the birthing.
Named Morgana Raven,
the child was born a witch.
Her fate was  determined by her lineage.

A witch born of a witch
who, in turn, was born of a witch,
down the generations...
 the witches were born.

Morgana was a wild child.
She learned the ways of Nature,
while living in the forests of the
legendary land of  Arcadia.

There was a time when she fell into love.
A dashing young man saw her bathing in a stream.
Her long ebony hair shimmered - his heart was taken.
Little did they know, their love was fated.

His name was Hel-med, cursed at birth.
Doomed to die before his time,
but only when he spurned his clan.
Morgana was to be his only love.

Hel-med's family despised Morgana.
She was a feral witch, they said.
Not fit to breed with their line.
Hel-med was forced to choose.

He chose the love of his woman.
He left his clan behind to wed her.
When their vows were sealed in the Book of Fate.
Hel-med fell to the ground,
 dead.

Morgana could not rouse him from his death.
She mourned him til her final breath.
Her witchery was given to help others.
Morgana Raven could not aid her own self.

A witch born of a witch
who, in turn, was born of a witch,
down the generations...
 the witches were born.

She died as a crone,
at the witching hour.
Born at that time, died at that time,
The circle of life has no end.

©Ellen Pepper 2026