The forest floor – it is covered with fallen Autumn leaves,
fallen twigs and branches – and fallen trees -
The mosses and the grasses intertwine with the dirt and the soil
a picturesque landscape awakened, alert and uncoiled
Lush vegetation, decomposing plants, and fungi all around -
It all celebrates the God of the Earth;
It all celebrates the God of the Ground
The breeze gently rustles the tops of the trees, deciduous
the bowing maples, the oaks, the elms - the Newer Gods, prociduous
The birds start to sing, and the chipmunks begin to chatter –
as the insects start to hum and the animals begin to scatter
It is a beautiful cacophony of glorious forest sounds -
Announcing the God of the Earth,
Announcing the God of the Ground
The Rabbits begin to scuttle about in their earthen lair
To then emerge topside to gather clover and plants to share
The long-eared dwellers look towards the sky to embrace the New Dawn
To announce the Light-Bringer, they thump their feet upon the lawn
The Morningstar begins to show itself brilliantly from above the mound
As the Rabbits eagerly await the God of the Earth,
As the Rabbits eagerly await the God of the Ground
The altar is raised, decorated with Holly & Oak
A steadfast circle is formed by the devout animal forest folk
From the firepit alongside, the flames rise high
As the animals sing loudly in unison, the sound amplifies
Not a sleeping creature in the forest is to be found –
as the animals hail the God of the Earth,
as the animals hail the God of the Ground
The New Gods bow down and lay down their weapons
They remain silent and defeated – as the Rabbit Lord beckons
Then, suddenly the noises from forest animals are drowned
As the Old God appears,
free from the chains from which he had been bound -
Then, the Rabbit Lord places around his horns an Emerald Crown
To triumphantly sit upon the head of the God of the Earth –
To be worn victoriously by the God of the Ground
Image: Courtesy of poet Johnny Francis Wolf.
