Clíodhna’s Song

Clíodhna’s Song

The mists hang heavy o’er the hills
that caress the sea;
the quiet darkness spreads its chills
as legends are set free.

The rhythm of the Celtic seas
that beat upon the shore,
the music of the windswept lees
all lay before his door.

Yet, he could not assemble it.
It weighed upon his soul.
His music could resemble it
but never make it whole.

A new sound broke his reverie;
a keening wail of death.
T’was the song of the Banshee
come to steal his breath.

Clíodhna¹ was the Banshee Queen,
she had long heard him play.
Though seldom was she ever seen,
she stayed her hand that day.

Her laugh was like a symphony;
at last it all made sense.
He knew she was his destiny
though he held no pretense.

No words were ever given voice
that night in the mist.
For him, there was no other choice.
The bargain made, they kissed.

That night was filled with passion,
ever higher he was drawn,
until the light turned ashen
with the glimmering of dawn.

In that pale glow at last it came,
the notes and chords aligned.
Like embers bursting into flame
the music filled his mind.

She had captured his devotion
for such was her need.
The greater his emotion
the better she could feed.

The summer past, the autumn came,
life's winter approaching,
though he had garnered much acclaim
he felt the end encroaching.

He woke to find that she was gone.
He found himself alone.
He struggled still to carry on
though his heart had turned to stone.

Within his soul, the music died
leaving an empty ache.
Such darkness he could not abide
in sleep or when awake.

She came at last, a final time,
accompanied by death.
She watched him make his final climb
and take his final breath.

The mists hang heavy o’er the hills
that caress the sea;
the quiet darkness spreads its chills
as legends are set free.

An entry for the March round of "The Bard's Hall Contest" 
Prompt: A little bit of 1, a little bit of 2 .
Line limit: 60
Line count: 60

Clíodhna (pronounced Cle-oh-na} In Irish mythology, Clíodhna is a Queen of the Banshees of the Tuatha Dé Danann and rules as queen over the sidheog (fairy women of the hills) of South Munster, or Desmond. She is the principal goddess of Ireland.