Mari Lwyd
‘Twas the dark of midwinter, the hearths burning low,
When out in the village there came a faint glow.
Mari Lwyd has come and challenges you to rhyme,
but if the ghost horse wins she will come in to dine.
The moon, on the snowbanks that shimmered below,
Lit up the dark lanes with an eerie white glow.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a horse’s white skull and a troupe full of cheer.
With ribbons and bells tied to bone stark and bare,
Mari Lwyd had loomed, a sight strange and rare.
Her sockets were empty, her grin wide and grim,
Yet joy filled the air as they sang their old hymn.
"Open your door!" came Mari's refrain,
"Let us best you in rhyming, or here we'll remain.
For blessings and cheer, and a sip of your ale,
We’ll riddle and jest 'til your words finally fail!"
We answered their rhymes with quick, clever wit,
Each line and retort we hoped would outwit.
But Mari was cunning, her verses well-spun,
And soon we conceded, her victory won.
With laughter and joy, no more rhymes left to think,
And in came dear Mari for our food and our drink.
They drank and they danced, their spirits alight,
Bringing good fortune to all on that cold solstice night.
‘Twas the dark of midwinter, the hearths burning low,
When out in the village there came a faint glow.
Mari Lwyd has come and challenges you to rhyme,
but if the ghost horse wins she will come in to dine.
The moon, on the snowbanks that shimmered below,
Lit up the dark lanes with an eerie white glow.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a horse’s white skull and a troupe full of cheer.
With ribbons and bells tied to bone stark and bare,
Mari Lwyd had loomed, a sight strange and rare.
Her sockets were empty, her grin wide and grim,
Yet joy filled the air as they sang their old hymn.
"Open your door!" came Mari's refrain,
"Let us best you in rhyming, or here we'll remain.
For blessings and cheer, and a sip of your ale,
We’ll riddle and jest 'til your words finally fail!"
We answered their rhymes with quick, clever wit,
Each line and retort we hoped would outwit.
But Mari was cunning, her verses well-spun,
And soon we conceded, her victory won.
With laughter and joy, no more rhymes left to think,
And in came dear Mari for our food and our drink.
They drank and they danced, their spirits alight,
Bringing good fortune to all on that cold solstice night.
‘Twas the dark of midwinter, the hearths burning low,
When out in the village there came a faint glow.
Mari Lwyd has come and challenges you to rhyme,
but if the ghost horse wins she will come in to dine.
The moon, on the snowbanks that shimmered below,
Lit up the dark lanes with an eerie white glow.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a horse’s white skull and a troupe full of cheer.
With ribbons and bells tied to bone stark and bare,
Mari Lwyd had loomed, a sight strange and rare.
Her sockets were empty, her grin wide and grim,
Yet joy filled the air as they sang their old hymn.
"Open your door!" came Mari's refrain,
"Let us best you in rhyming, or here we'll remain.
For blessings and cheer, and a sip of your ale,
We’ll riddle and jest 'til your words finally fail!"
We answered their rhymes with quick, clever wit,
Each line and retort we hoped would outwit.
But Mari was cunning, her verses well-spun,
And soon we conceded, her victory won.
With laughter and joy, no more rhymes left to think,
And in came dear Mari for our food and our drink.
They drank and they danced, their spirits alight,
Bringing good fortune to all on that cold solstice night.