Red Clover
In fields of meadows, along sides of roads, in the ditches and between rows, Red Clover grows
Fills the Heart with Love
Healing woes where the Red Clover grows
Calms the nervous system, guards against invaders, helps the body glow where the Red Clover grows.
Salad and Tinctures, Balms and Flower Essences, Honey and Wine, Mead and Tea, Red Clover is wonderful in all these.
Companion to All plants not just one Red Clover grows among the fruits and vegetables, bushes and trees, the Farmer is best to let her be.
Friend to the Bumble and Honey Bee…
Red Clover loves thee and me and All that I see.
—Elizabeth Loabe, August 2013 ©
Fire
Lugnasadh Fire at the Lake
The Fire begins with a loosely wadded ball of newspaper and some tubes of cardboard recycled and saved for this purpose.
A small pile of leaves are added to this mix
And then comes the twigs just picked from the ground and tested with a quick snapping in two
Then, small pieces are placed in a circle ’round the top of this tinder pile
A match is struck and with a quick touch from the hand of woman
Fire begins to to lap its hunger with the tinder under
There is the addition of breathe… making embers grow
And then suddenly the fire takes off and goes
Glowing warmth contained in th’ fire ring
A transformative alchemical process
cookin’ corn and dinner and making s’mores
on this last day of Lugnasdh the harvest is born.
–Fire, Elizabeth Loabe ©