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What will you do? (GOSL) 'What will you do when the humans have gone?' Asked the tree of the cat. Will you lose the crown they laid on your heads? And slip into shadows unseen. Or will you cry for laps and soft warm beds? Like little kittens at their queen. 'Will they really go?' asked the cat. 'What will you do when the humans have gone?' Asked the cat of the dog. Will you lay your sword and quiet your jaws? And dig to the ground with your pack. Or will you run around on lonely paws? Whining like your masters are back. 'Why would they go?' asked the dog. 'What will you do when the humans have gone?' Asked the dog of the horse. Will you balance the earth and your burdens? And dance with your herd and your blood. Or will you circle alone in their pens? Tethered and wallowing in mud. 'Where will they go?' asked the horse. 'What will you do when the humans have gone?' Asked the horse of the bird. Will you soar with power on silent wings? And lend your voices to the wind. Or will you fall like shiny broken things? Entangled in the trash they binned 'When will they go?' asked the bird. 'What will you do when the humans have gone?' Asked the bird of the tree. Will you unbind your roots to flourish free? And guide where we needed the hosts. Or will you be felled like your prophecy? Cut down to release all the ghosts. 'I will know when they're gone', said the tree. *

Lullaby Lament (GOSL) Bring me your cold, Your tears, And your little paws. You have me to hold. You have me to hold. Never get cold, My dear, In my loving paws. Never get cold. Never get cold. Give me to hold, Your fears, And your little paws. You have me to hold. You have me to hold. Never get cold, My dear, In my loving paws. Never get cold. Never get cold. Never get cold. *** I gave you my cold, My tears, And my little paws. I had you to hold. I had you to hold. I never got cold, My dear, In your loving paws. I never got cold. I never got cold. I gave you to hold, My fears, And my little paws. I had you to hold. I had you to hold. Now you are cold, My dear, In my empty paws. And you’ll never grow old. You will never grow old. YOU … WILL … NEVER … GROW … OLD. (GOSL Ratters 2021) *

Oh my, oh my (GOSL) Oh my, oh my, Our shy Lady Shy, Was it all a lie, Down Shady Ly. Oh why, oh why, Demon they cried, Damned her to die, By neck she’s tied. Oh, her cry, her cries, Screams in the sky, Burned by the lies, In flames she’ll die Oh no, Lady Shy, Follows her cries, For fools who lie, As an angel flies. Oh, she dies, she died, Our shy Lady Shy, Then everyone lied, Down Shady Ly   *** Baby Bright (modern) Oh my, oh my My baby bright How do you lie On a starry night? Oh why, oh why Are you so glum? Why do you cry, Life’s just begun. Oh no cry, no cries. Quiet your mind, Close your eyes, Peace you will find. Now open your eyes Look all around Up to the skies Don’t make a sound. Don’t cry, don’t cry. My baby bright Hush now and fly On this starry night (GOSL Daemon of Cattesminta Cott) *

The Lady's Promise (GOSL) Úre fiðere ond eage in sé lyft, Íewan mé ælcwuht ic þorfan beseon. Úre hófes ond stræde on sé eorþe, Tacan mé hwar ic cunne bió freo. Úre túxel ond nosu æt sé wæter, Gescildan mé fram þá ic fleon. Úre clifer ond néome be sé fýr, Hælan mé swá ic reste be ðu. Mín lufu ond mætan of úre lif, Wil helpe mín sáwol betan béon. Fréo Sceoh, Sceadlic Lyge, 1232 Translation (From Old English) Your wings and eyes in the air, show me all I need see. Your hooves and stride on earth, take me where I can be free. Your teeth and nose by the water, save me from those I flee. Your claws and sweet sounds by the fire, heal me as I rest by thee. My love and dreams of your life, will help my soul to better be. Lady Shy, Shady Ly 1232 *

Shadow Song (GOSL) You only cast your shadows on my soul. My lonely tears are singing as they roll. You only cast your shadows on my soul. My lonely tears are singing as they roll. You only cast your shadows on my soul. My lonely tears are singing as they roll. I’m grieving and imagine you are whole. You only cast your shadows on my soul. I feel your life so hauntingly My lonely tears are singing as they roll. I’m broken if I’m all you see I’m grieving and imagine you are whole. I feel your life so hauntingly You only cast your shadows on my soul. I’m broken if I’m all you see My lonely tears are singing as they roll. You only need remember me I’m grieving and imagine you are whole. Hear my heart and final plea Quiet your song to let me be I feel your life so hauntingly I’m broken if I’m all you see You only cast your shadows on my soul. You only need remember me Hear my heart and final plea My lonely tears are singing as they roll. Quiet your song to let me be I feel your life so hauntingly I’m grieving and imagine you are whole. I’m broken if I’m all you see You only need remember me Hear my heart and final plea Quiet your song to let me be (GOSL Conker's Sign 2022) *

Little Shy Elle (GOSL) Lȳtel Shei Elle (Middle English – circa 13th Century) Nẹ̄r ān ōlde trēo, ik dien in se wæter, Ond wicche tacke mi sāwl, tō axen mi, Singen mi song aboute bregas doughter, Ond ik retorne ēow tō lif for an fie. Ond se wicche seyen tō mi: Singen mi, Singen mi, Tellen mi tālēs of Lȳtel Shei Elle, Bringen mi, Bringen mi, Payen mi sāwl of Lȳtel Shei Elle. Ond ik tellen se wicche, of Lȳtel Shei Elle: Frend wé been, for ik hath na ōther, An bōc on se flor, an lire bi se dore, Na eldre nū, na systir, na brōthor, Retorne mi tō deeth, ik payen na māra. Ond se wicche seyen tō mi: Sēcan her, sēcan her, Yif sīe hidden, ik ripen ūt ēower eie, Ēow ne reide, ēow ne reide, Ne buten sāwl of Lȳtel Shei Elle. Ond se wicche seyen tō mi: Folwen her, Folwen her, Yif sīe ne talken, ik ripen ūt ēower tunge, Ēow ne sing, ēow ne sing, Ne buten sāwl of Lȳtel Shei Elle. Ond se wicche seyen tō mi: Slaghter her, Slaghter her, Yif sīe ne dien, ik ripen of ēower hands, Ēow ne pleie, ēow ne pleie, Ne buten sāwl of Lȳtel Shei Elle. Thanne Lȳtel Shei Elle, sīe come tellen mi, Frend wé been, for ik hath na ōther, Drie leef on se flor, an cava vith ne dore, An devel fader, fæst sicnen moder, Swā fleon fram se wicche, ond payen na māra. Ond Elle seyen tō mi: Singen mi, Singen mi, Tellen se tālēs of Lȳtel Shei Elle, Lǣte al sen, Lǣte al sen, Sauven se sāwla of Lȳtel Shei Elle. Nẹ̄r ān ōlde trēo, ik hiden in se wæter, Wher ne wicche sen se sāwla abounden in mi, Singen se tālēs aboute bregas daughter, Ond wacche se wicche faden aweg fram mi trēo. Little Shy Elle (Modern Version) Near an old tree, I died in the water, And a witch took my soul, to ask of me, Sing me a song about the lord’s daughter, And I’ll return you to life for a fee. And the witch said to me: Sing to me, sing to me, Tell me the tales of little Shy Elle, Bring to me, bring to me, Pay me the soul of little Shy Elle. And I told the witch, of Little Shy Elle: Friends we will be, for I have no other, A book on the floor, a lyre by the door, No parents now, no sister no brother, Return me to death, I’ll pay you no more. And the witch said to me: Look for her, Look for her, If she still hides, I’ll rip out your eyes, You won’t read, you won’t read, None but the soul of little Shy Elle. And the witch said to me: Follow her, follow her, If she won’t talk, I’ll rip out your tongue, You won’t sing, you won’t sing, None but the soul of little Shy Elle. And the witch said to me: Slaughter her, Slaughter her, If she won’t die, I’ll rip off your hands, You won’t play, you won’t play, None but the soul of little Shy Elle. Then Little Shy Elle, she came to tell me: Friends we will be, for I have no other, Dry leaves on the floor, a cave with no door, A demon father, fast ailing mother, So, run from the witch, and pay her no more. And Elle said to me: Sing of me, sing of me, Tell them the tales of little Shy Elle, Let them see, let them see, Save all the souls of little Shy Elle. Near an old tree, I’ll hide in the water, Where no witch sees the souls abound in me, Sing all the tales, about the lord’s daughter. And watch the witch fade away from my tree. (GOSL Daemon of Cattesminta Cott) *

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L J Craven does not use Artificial Intelligence (AI), or any other form of intelligence, in the production of her written work or illustrations. 

All writing, artwork, and design by L J Craven.

All photography either by, or rights owned by L J Craven.

All written work is fiction and entirely the product of the authors imagination. Any resemblance to persons or animals, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright © 2023 L. J. Craven. All rights reserved. 

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