Why do you cry asked 'Sister Summer' to 'Brother Otter',

We both knew that one day, one day, the last mouthful would be eaten,

We both knew that one day, the last raspberry would fall,

And we both knew that one day, I would leave.

And with a last drop of Raspberry leaf tea on 'Her' radiant lips,

 'She' of the ever lasting days smiled broadly.

Then with tattered gowns and threadbare plimsoll 'Sister Summer' turned,

Kissing 'Brother Otter' lightly, wiping salty pearls from his velvet mask,

'She' did bid farewell to the party.

'She' of the fair weather, mistress of light, the 'Raspberry Queen', retired once more.

Trailing diminishing light behind 'Her' in ever tattering gowns,

Every footstep revealed 'Her' weariness of this day.

Ascending stairs, this the 'Red Current Dame' Slipped her dress like a flag to the floor, And now in moonlight shades, she fell beneath cover.

This once 'Radiant Queen' now closed her eyes, and dreamt of landscapes still to come.

Then did 'She' arise with vigour and spark, this 'Hazel Eyed' beauty of nature.

And looking at her 'Sister Roses', 'She' smiled, for there was much to do.

Donning clothes of copper and amber hue, 'She', the 'Autumnal Queen' left the chamber,

Descending stair, foot-by-foot, 'She' looked upon this world with awe.

And reaching the party, 'She' greeted all in attendance,

and then 'She' sat with 'Brother Time' and asked 'He' to bay his hands once more,

and then 'She' did kiss all in attendance on that day,

and all knew that 'She' was now here, for in their beards and brows silver had appeared.

And leaving table to tend to garden, 'She' bowed to all in the vegetable kingdom,

and all hailed 'She', telling 'Her' of their journey,

And 'She' did then prepared their beds, and painted their faces,

and asked them, for a little longer, to stay awake.

And returning to table, 'She' poured fine Pyracantha tea; hot, orange, spiced, and sweet

and served fine apple pie, and looked upon the guest and their silvering manes.

And like 'Her' sisters before, 'Sister Autumn' did shed a salty tear.

And smiling sweetly at 'Brother Otter' she did notice in 'He' a salty tear upon 'His' Jacket.

And in this sadness they rested, knowing Truth,

For they knew that all would end, but not today.

And raising 'Her' cup, 'She', the 'Blackberry Queen' toasted all,

and each eat their fill of fine apple pie,

and all did rejoice.

'Are you awake?' asked thrice the sweet voice of 'Sister Spring',

'My hair grows ever golden and we have gardens to tend!'

But the Sisters lay slumbering in their bed.

'Are you awake?' asked thrice the sweet voice of 'Sister Spring' again,

'My gowns grows tatty and I am tired'

But again, the Roses slumbered in their bed.

'Are you awake!' asked thrice the sweet voice of 'Sister Spring' one more time,

'I have entertained Bear and Fox, and now the larder grows empty!', but still the Sisters lay slumbering in their bed.

Then did 'Sister Spring' lay on the fine feather bed,

And with shove that was mighty, did 'She' ripple the mattress,

None stirred except for 'Sister Summer', who smiled widely and rose,

And kissing 'Sister Spring' lightly on the forehead, bid 'Her' Sister good night.

And donning robes of dazzling Sunlight, 'Sister Summer' left Her Sisters to sleep,

And with footstep soft, 'She' descended the stairs; calling to all things,

To the Fae, to the Vættir, to the Birds, to the Bees, and to all that would listen,

And spreading 'Her' gowns, 'Brother Fruit' and 'Sister Vegetable' answered,

And turning their faces to fair 'Sister Summer', all blossomed on its vine.

With each footstep 'Sister Summer's feet warmed the Earth,

And with each footstep all rejoiced,

And with each footstep, 'Brother Time' forgot to tick,

And with each footstep, 'Sister Nótt' slept a little more.

And walking 'Her' lands, 'She' of the Summer talked to each and every being,

And walking 'Her' lands, 'She' who was radiant touched all with fairness,

And walking 'Her' lands, 'Brother Bear' and 'Sister Fox' accompanied 'Her' for a while,

And walking 'Her' lands, 'She' of the Sun tended each and every garden there was.

But I am told by the 'Old One' with sparkling sapphire eye, a daughters of Nótt,

that 'Sister Summer' walked far and wide that day, until 'She' began to yawn,

And I am told that 'Her' dress began to tatter, and 'Her' hair began to bronze,

And just like 'Her' 'Sister Spring', 'She' began to understand that all comes to an end.

And re-turning to 'Her' land, 'Her' garden, and 'Her' fine house, 'Sister Summer' picked fine lettuce and umptious salad tomato,

And tending 'Her' garden, 'She' harvest, 'She' stocked the larders full.

And then 'She' smiled once more, declaring a feast to be in order, and Audhumla did bring fine cheese, and 'Sister Wheat' fine breads,

And Honey-Bees did fill goblets with fine, sweet mead,

And all of nature were invited to the feast.

And at that feast all attended,

And at that feast, 'Brother Time' remembered to tick,

And at that feast, 'Sister Nótt' slipped on ever darkening robes,

And at that feast, all dinned at the same table, celebrated all that was.

And as 'Sister Summer' looked upon the feast; 'She', like her 'Sister Spring' shed a tear,

For 'Sister Summer' knew that all was already passing,

'She' knew that all were growing old, all would lose their feathers and fur,

And 'She' knew that 'Her' time too was passing.

And then with a widening smile, 'She' again cast a hand over all at the feast,

And for an exquisite moment, all were bathed in sunlight,

And for that moment 'Brother Time' forgot the tick and 'Sister Nótt's' dress turned white.

For the time of 'Sister Summer' was not yet at an end,

And in this act all rejoiced, all danced, all laughed, and all played.

For they felt the warmth of 'Sister Summer' in their hearts.

Can you see 'Her'? Open your eyes and drink 'Her' in!

Can you taste 'Her'? Open your mouth and quaff deeply from 'Her' drinking horn!

Can you hear 'Her'? Open your ears and listen to 'Her' magic!

Can you touch 'Her'? Take your hands and sensually feel into each and every curve!

Can you smell 'Her'? Open your senses and drink 'Her' musty scent!

Do you know 'Her'? Sit in that space, and then you may be graced with her presence!

Betwixt and between time I once talked to the 'Midnight Crone' with one blue eye.

Two in the morn or maybe five, I cannot be sure, time evaporated like morning dew.

And that 'Old Crone', 'Goddess of the Night', 'Raven Mistress', 'She' did tell me of four Roses in a dark bed, one of whom was now missing.

Winking at me, 'Her' sapphire blue eye sparkled; flashing like fire across water.

Leaning in 'She' whispered that 'She', that 'Wise Old Crone', knew where the Rose ran wild. 

Speaker with the Fey, converser with the 'Dark Elves', and 'Talker with the Vættir', 'She' did tell of how the 'Young Rose' was awoken with Thundercloud Plum mead.

And 'She' told me of how 'She' was fed fine Dogwood cakes.

And 'She' told me of how the Rose now had arisen from 'Her' bed.

And 'She' proclaimed how in the wilds of the lengthening day, the Rose freely rambled.

And then, then 'She' whispered that this 'Young Rose' was called 'Sister Spring'. 

That Crone did tell of deep magic in that meeting under hanging stars.

And 'She' told me of how once arisen, gowned in webbing, 'Sister Spring' did venture forth.

And stepping into 'Her' garden, 'Sister Spring' talked to tree, leaf and all beings that morn.

And in 'Her' breath was life itself.

And all of those kissed by 'Sister Winter' did now stretch and yawn.

And all of those kissed by 'Sister Winter' did now dance and move.

And all of those kissed by 'Sister Winter' did now sing and howl.

And then 'Sister Spring' smiled, and in 'Her' smile was deep magic.

And observing all of nature waking, dancing and singing; 'She' took great joy.

But in that joy was tragic heartache. For 'Sister Spring', this 'Young Rose' with soft thorns knew the troth.

This beautiful Rose knew that even 'Her' magic could not stop the grinding of the wheel.

'She' knew all too well that one day, everything must be visited by Sister Winter once again.

And in this troth a salty tear caressed the contour of 'Her' alabaster cheek.

But then 'She' smiled one more, for 'She' knew that 'Sister Winter' slept, if only for today.

Then meeting with Fey, Vættir and Elves 'Sister Spring' sang sweet galdr's of deep magic.

'She' sang of things to come, and told all of creation of many things that would be.

And once the long honeyed galdr's had been sung, 'Sister Spring' turned once more.

And returning to 'Her' house, she did find Bear and Fox awakening from their slumber.

And greeting 'Her' old friends anew, 'She' embraced them, kissing them softly.

And then 'She' did prepare for them a fine feast.

And they did sit and eat their fill of fine Cherry Blossom tea and Magnolia cake.

And in their talking were new words, new magic and songs.

And in their talking they tired the moon three times or more.

And in this sacred space they talked of their dreams and of deep magic, of ancient magic which was now returning to the land once more.

And then, with the 'Sons of Day' knocking on their door, they retired once more to the garden to dance, sing and howl in the ever increasing light.

Then 'She', the 'Old Raven Mistress' winked,

and like smoke 'She' was gone!