Life Of Magic

I came across a beggar man
On a dusty mountain road
His garb was soiled and ragged
His face withered, sad and old
I asked him how he came there
Where were his family and kin?
His answer was low and bitter
Where should I begin?

How I longed for a life of magic
Yearned for the art of the spell
An enchantress, a dark mistress
Sir, listen and I'll tell

In the forest of the east
Where the oak and ash grow tall
I found a ring of many flowers
Beyond a crumbling wall
On the pathway was a vision
Eyes dark with hair of red
Her hand beckoned me to join her
And gladly I was led

She cast a smile towards me
On my lips she placed a kiss
And my purpose was forgotten
No past life did I miss
The spires of the city
My father's farm, my mother's bread
My sweetheart Mary, all were lost
To that witch with hair of red

Then I lived that life of magic
Loved the art of the spell
Enchantress, dark mistress
Took me to heaven as I fell

We lay in meadows sweet and green
We danced in moonlit streams
She taught me how to charm the birds
She brought life to my dreams
We travelled over hill and glen
On hidden paths unseen
Till I could not remember where
My heart had ever been

A year did pass, through winter snow
And summer hot with sun
And all the while she sang her spell
Her beauty urged me on
Until one morn I found her gone
By a lake with waters cold
And on the surface I spied my face
Now withered, sad and old

How I gave my life for magic
All for the art of the spell
Enchantress, dark mistress
Turned a heaven into hell

I journeyed lost and in dismay
Another year was cast
Until one day I chanced upon
The old home of my past
But my father knew me not
Nor my mother hailed her son
And sweetheart Mary was repulsed
At the wretch I had become

So here I sit a victim of
The folly of desire
A young man in ancient skin
My heart a dying fire
Take my warning and resist
Eyes dark and hair of red
On a ring of many flowers
In a forest garden bed

Never sell your life for magic
Nor yearn for the art of spell
Enchantress, dark mistress
Will curse your soul to hell

© 2004, Alan J Stuart