Witches Three

As far as the original hideous image of witches that we started this tale with . . . the cackling, old, ugly, hooked-nose ladies stirring their cauldron; it's probable that they never really existed except in the vivid imaginations of storytellers. Witches were often spoken of as being old and ugly because evil was considered to be ugly . . . therefore it made the story much more interesting to portray witches this way. The steaming cauldron almost always associated with witches, is more likely to have originated from the large pot in which potions were made by the early healers to cure the ailing.

-oOo-

Three young witches sat by a tree

and wished with all their might,

that ghouls and ghosts would not appear

on Hallows Eve, or any other night.

With hands entwined they closed their eyes,

softly chanting incantations

which called upon the fairies, to help rid

the world of evil infestations.

Two pumpkin cauldrons spattered 'n' popped,

they fizzed with utter delight,

 good omens departed swiftly on the wind,

crushing every wicked thing in sight.

When dawn broke in the early morn,

the witches smiled with glee,

with the fairies help they'd conquered all

and fulfilled their destiny.

© S.D.Smith

-oOo-

Happy Halloween!

Photoshoot: One, Two, Three

I have just finished sewing some simple dresses for three of my KID's and had a quick photoshoot today in keeping with the current season of Halloween . . . so stand by for some more "double, double toil and trouble" from siblings Irene, Lonnie and their older cousin Paige.

I ended up keeping the red wig for Lonnie, and just restyled it so it didn't cover so much of her face. I may replace it at a later date if I find a red one that's short and curly.

Double, Double Toil and Trouble!

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) from Macbeth.
Act IV, Scene 1

A dark Cave. In the middle, a Caldron boiling. Thunder.
Enter the three Witches.

1st WITCH: Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

2nd WITCH: Thrice and once, the hedge-pig whin'd.

3rd WITCH: Harpier cries:~ 'tis time! 'tis time!

1st WITCH: Round about the caldron go;

In the poison'd entrails throw

Toad, that under cold stone,

Days and nights has thirty-one;

Swelter'd venom sleeping got,

Boil thou first i' the charmed pot!

ALL THREE: Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

2nd WITCH: Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the caldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt, and toe of frog,

Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,

Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. 

ALL THREE: Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

3rd WITCH: Scale of dragon; tooth of wolf;

Witches' mummy; maw and gulf

Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark;

Root of hemlock digg'd i the dark;

Liver of blaspheming Jew;

Gall of goat, and slips of yew

Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse;

Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips;

Finger of birth-strangled babe

Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,

Make the gruel thick and slab:

Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,

For the ingrediants of our caldron.

ALL THREE: Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

2nd WITCH: Cool it with a baboon's blood,

Then the charm is firm and good.

-oOo-
*brinded ~ having obscure dark streaks or flecks on gray
*gulf ~ the throat
*drab ~ prostitute
*chaudron ~ entrails

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