The traveller stops for a while in his quest, maybe finished, maybe not yet
ahead he spies looming the five sisters who patiently wait
solemn and brooding issuing challenge,
A voice in his head, for there’s nobody there, is casually coaxing
like a bull with the ring in his nose he is led.
Further than he’d been planning to go, just a look to see closer….
a small earthy voice, coated in silk, murmurs
“closer, come closer, we mean you no harm , ignore my sisters they are afraid you see”
Hears himself respond, but her voice comes again
“we are lonely we sisters, here all alone, won’t you just visit our home?”
Nodding he begins his ascent, a grim smile on his lips
the voice keeps telling him how brave and strong for soldiering on
and they’re going to look at him different after this
won’t he’s a mouse or timid again, the mountain lion in him will roar
He hears the sisters all speaking at once but can’t hear their words
till he is instructed to walk slowly along the narrow ledge
and is told he’d be welcome to stay the night
“here we don’t have guests like you all brave and strong, you can always stay, become, belong…”
He misses the sly undertone completely
is flattered by the prettiest speech, imagines eyes of chocolate brown
he’d like to stay here and in them he’d drown
suddenly the singing begins, lilting and enchanting songs
Words of which he has no clue
laying down to listen awhile he sees the mist rolling down
five sisters becoming a cackling throng
Should he stay, this mist will clear and it’s not so noisy here
momentarily, he panics but he can’t see the way
As he plummets headlong into the crevasse he hears a lilting voice
“Relax and enjoy now you made your choice, ” it giggles
“We always knew you were going to stay “.
Written with the Five Sisters of Kintail in mind.
ailsacawley 