witches west w
my teeth are clicking their despair, dismayed
for tongue, two-lip and throat couldn’t
possibly articulate how desirous we are all
to hear these syllables spoken, sung
shouted
whispered
the echo we caught on the dying gasp
of Nor’western winds suggested something
tangible waiting our arrival, just beyond the curve
of mountain and brook, somewhere secret
for us to cast circles for magick
to conjure our consonants
we were witches of the West
where women worried over waterfalls
wondering when, when the wolves
would come to wreak havoc on our wombs
we were witches, wishing
for wealth, for wisdom, for life
without woe, waking only to
watch the willows wave farewell
wanton, we were witches
wistful, whimsical creations
born of the wicked world
we wrought ourselves