Wednesday, October 21, 2009


Sightings

Her image cannot be captured on the glossy surface of a photograph. It will only appear as a pale, shifting shadow and within the blink of an eye, all the blacks and blue greys simply slide off the paper and float away on the air. Some intrepid souls have enjoyed a modicum of success with a sketch, hiding within dark thickets of pine with their thumbs pricking, charcoal poised over tablet, squinting in the mist, waiting....waiting..... but the majority only find themselves so stunned at her sighting that they are unable to breathe, let alone to attempt a rendering of her countenance upon paper. Abhorring crowds, she will only appear to the solitary witness, therefore making the paltry accounts of her presence unsupported and suspect, and altering that witness till the end of his days. Mercurial and wayward, she is thought to show herself only in the last two weeks of October, sailing along through a chilled moonlit night, but as mentioned, few have owned the certain type of bravery required to wait all alone for her appearance as she soars past, high above, on the mane of the wind.
The sound of her laughter, high-pitched and hair-raising, has been said to raise from the dead those bent on mischief and mayhem in the cities of men, and her visage, admittedly extreme, has long been thought malevolent, but who can say for certain. Her antipathy for canines is well documented, but she does seem to be charmed by the felines amongst us, making them comfortable in her uncharted stone castle, hidden deep inside the thunderclouds.
The time is nigh for her sightings to occur.
Watch for her if you must, but far better I think, to sit by the fire and read of her exploits, words written by others no longer able to write, their thoughts forever doomed to wander one lone memory of a cold autumn night.

37 comments:

  1. Thank you for this. I very much enjoyed it, and I'll take your advice about staying by the fire.

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  2. As I was born on Hallowe'en maybe I have a better chance of seeing her than most, Pamela? But on second thoughts I shall sit by our wood-burning stove and warm by feet - she may pass by unnoticed - maybe the best way.PS Word verification is blesses - is she trying to thank me?

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  3. I shall be quite content to sit by the fire in Necky Knoll House reading your wonderful descriptions of her, Pamela!

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  4. Methinks that there is more to this than meets the eye !!!!If only Edward could talk.. XXXX

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  5. I agree with Jacgueline~ I think Edward has a bit to do with this. But I'm going to stay close to the fire anyway...

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  6. "...one lone memory of a cold autumn night."

    I keep whispering that aloud a'la Anne of Green Gables. Whispering whispering whispering "...one lone memory of a cold autumn night."

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  7. Creepy! I'll leave all the lights on if I think I see her lurking outside my windows.

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  8. I love this! Kept thinking of Anne Sexton as I read it: "I have been her kind . . ."

    You have put me in such a Halloween mood, Pamela! xoxo Gigi

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  9. Bwahaha!! Tell Edward to take cover with you by the fire!

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  10. I think I too will draw the curtains, sit in the flickering firelight and not be tempted to peek beyond the pages of my book:)

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  11. Wonderful description.
    I was always fascinated by Witch stories as a child.

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  12. Pamela, I love visiting here. Hope you don't mind my broomstick parked by your door.

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  13. I never care for this sort of Witch depiction. If I were a Christian, I'd be ashamed of belonging to a religion, which passed it along.

    And... No.... I'm not a believer in ANY religion.

    Aunt Amelia

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  14. I enjoy so much your words and all you share
    Love Jeanne

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  15. This is your favorite time of year, isn't it? Your blog reminds me to go pumpkin shopping.

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  16. I'm definitely a 'sitting by the fire and reading accounts' kind of girl! I leave her sightings to the more adventurous :)

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  17. Delicious! I'm firmly in the "reading about her by the fire" camp:-)...With Tara and Bailey close by I think I can manage to be brave enough...

    I so wish you lived close by to share a wonderful tale like this at our Victorian Ghost Story Tea...
    :-(

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  18. Well,I am going to watch..I love scary things..;)

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  19. Are we setting on a Halloween journey yet? I remember reading your tale last year and it was so good that I read it at a family gathering (believe me you were credited accordinly, you know copyright and all that jazz). Many thanks for this one, now. It was cracking.

    Greetings from London.

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  20. Enchanting post, Pamela! Not cold enough for a fire at the moment but that's where I would like to be.

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  21. Pamela, a hug to all! The book I'm currently reading "The Widow and The Tree" by Sonny Brewer, comes to life even more with your wonderful post! :)

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  22. A delicious chill just shivered down my spine! This was amazing! I'm staying in by the fire, for sure!! Scoot over :)
    xo Isa

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  23. Pam another wonderful post by you, beautiful you.

    I love the three kinds too. Okay, here is crossing our fingers.

    xoxox

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  24. Ooooooooooo! Very nice, very creepy!

    I love the Mane of the Wind...

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  25. I just felt a chill down my spine.
    pve

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  26. Loved this ! How funny and creepy at the same time! I've just been catching up on your last few posts and as always Pamela it is complete joy to read your prose.

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  27. your images and words are always divine.
    xx

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  28. Brilliant post!
    The witch is amazing...love the sketch.

    I will stick by the fire..just in case :)

    Have a Happy Day!

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  29. Superb!!
    Thank goodness for blogging and your wonderful posts. Takes me to a mysterious world far more interesting than reality.

    OK only joking. I know she is real!

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  30. Yes it's definately the start of evening fires and stories here. I bought the children a copy of my childhood fairy tale book. So full of magic -I was so pleased to find the 2nd hand copies for them to treasure for themselves. Fairy tales and firelight snuggled under quilts. Perfect!

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  31. Hello P&E,

    Far better to stoke up the fire and settle down with a good book!

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  32. I admit to not being a Witches Night fan. Yet you bring whimsy to the dark dark tale. Shiver.

    Love to you, x.

    P.S. still waiting for a duet ;)

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  33. OOOOh no! I want to be out on the moors, the wind in my hair. We all have this aspect within us,she is really the wise old crone, her knowledge of healing drawn from being a mother always full of love for her family and her neibours, she is the kind old lady we call on for wisdom and sensible words in times of need. No! let her fly this night and be proud of her.
    Beautiful words

    Hugs Lynn xxxx

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  34. I am sorely tempted to get out my charcoal & sit & wait in the damp night air! but after all i am a brave only in my dreams & the fire side sounds a far safer option, though i shall be listening ! x

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  35. I will be keeping a keen eye out. Thanks.

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!