The Tale of Beithir

ie. a large snakelike creature or dragon in

Scottish folklore: a creature of light(ning)

Fear of which does not haunt you,

Reach for that which does.

Hidden in the shadows 

Of caves and caverns, 

Biding a strike

On the raucous taverns, 

Lies the Beithir. 

A seeker wanders down the corrie, 

Pertinently warned. 

Pursuing one who mustn’t be found,

The creature revealed, horned 

Veiled with venom. 

Flee to the water -

The lake! The sea!

Before too late,

Grieving cries of the Banshee, 

Drown the torrid air. 

A body, 

Nay more

Shipwrecked and scattered. 

Horns. Scales. Nails. Claws - upon the moore

Cypress Tears. 

Fray from the waving blankets

Fray from the sand trickled shores,

Fray from Beaufort castle,

From stinging corpse

And striking light. 

Written by Julian Kumar 

[ Julian Kumar is a creative who paints a portrait of magic, and reality’s place lies in haunting the frame. ]