"Amid The Juniper Tree"

"Bury me,

Bury me, for none to see

Bury me, my love to be

in the shade of the juniper tree"

On a midsummer night

a girl screams in fright.

A woman cleans her hands of blood

Her daughter screams still sound

Another life into the mud.

She came to the village, seeking her wealth and hope

The lad looked so handsome, his home so vast

She never accounted for the sinless son,

or what would come to pass.

"we will have wealth, we will be safe-my daughter we will be fine"

she sees him in the meadow, a stone and shell in hand

leaping from stream to bush-it was all that she could stand.

His laughs that ring and pierced her ears, for no other was to say

She learns will solemn compromise-one day he'll take it away.

One night she calls the evil one and gathers what to say

"go now and slay him my dear-and it will all be yours one day"

The shadow called and coddled her, and gathered her to dance,

she knew what then she had to do and fell into the trance.

She drew her knife from the nearest bread, opened wide the window and calmly said

"Come now my boy, it's nearly night-have you even had a bite? the trunk is full and vast with treats. come in and eat and wipe your feet. There is time before we sup, so have an apple and eat it up".

The boy reached inside and then away, she crashed down the trunk and his soft head away. there was no sound or mercy call,nor was there blood upon the wall. The daughter was off in a room, and did not hear the brother's doom.

She thought a lie and thought it quick, and propped him up by stone and stick. An apple in his supple hand, lay a torment from his land.

"where is my brother, mother dear?"

"He is in the garden, my sweetest thing. An apple he is coddling. Have him give it to you and if he does fight, strike him good with all your might"

"oh my son, be good and strong, your cry is not in vain. You did bury me at the shade of the juniper tree. I will shed a tear for thee.

By the shade of the tree, she kneels and gives a kick to he. About the grassy knoll his head to go and screaming in and to and fro." What have you done poor child of mine, get now ready for dinner, as all shall be fine."

The father did come home from his journey vast, to settle in for a nice repast. There is much to have, my husband dear, meat and dumplings are waiting here." Oh poor boy, if he could only know." "Where did my son go, where could he be?"

The bones beside the juniper tree.

It was not for him to see or know.

The moon did dip as the cock did crow.

"Oh my son, can you see me now? Knowing what they did and how? What now is there to do with thee, the lad beneath the shaded tree. I am here and wait for thee."

The morning came and the girl thick with tears, came to pray and quell her fears. By the light that gathered to the day, she fell upon her knees to pray. This was a moment, hers to keep, and she alone began to weep.

"My sister dear I am here above" She looked about and saw a dove. As brilliant white angel's crest. The boy was not about to rest.

Birds a feather flock and fowl. Giving wind and evening howl. Carried upon the evening sky, a voice to call and sing and cry.

"Tell them of your mother with that sinful sup, or your foolish father that ate you up.

Call to them my feathered son. Call to the farmer, merchant, seamstress and everyone.

Tell your story to and fro, tell them all and they will know."

"Where do you come from and what do you wish? You bid the captain and his fish. I ask to know who did this sin.

"Twas my mother who did me in ".

As the mother sat and cut the evening fish, her little daughter made a wish.

"Bring back my brother who I so love."

Just then appeared the dove. "My sister it is me, your slain brother by the tree. You heard the song that I did sing. I give you now this golden ring".

The daughter wearing the ring of light. Saying what was seen and told, her mother saw the ring of gold.

The bird of light and whitest wing, upon the branch began to sing.

"That sound is wicked, oh what could it be?"

"Tis my brother from the blessed tree".

"The sound is evil, it burns my ears-i shall fetch an axe an still my fears."

The mother set on final doom, gathered the axe from the room'

"Come here bird, you know it is me-why do you strike me from this dreadful tree? I am waiting here, my cursed son. Come at me now oh little one!"

The lightening cracked and heavens groaned and she fell beneath a mighty stone.

The sound that was the mother's screams, forged the bother's arms from his little wings. What was once a little dove, was now the son, come from above.

"Father sister, it is me, your little son from the juniper tree. 'Twas my mother who did me in-now under stone for her sins".

The father and the sister and son now at last, took all hands and began to dance.

The father son and sister too, went inside to have their stew. The mother gone amidst the stone, as darker realms will be her home.

This is the story you've come to see. A little life was now repaid, and told amid the ancient shade.

Oh little bird, what did you see?

Amid the shade

Of The Juniper Tree.