Written piece
Casting a Spell
Laurice Gilbert
New Zealand
About this piece
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has" - attributed to Margaret Meads; my inspiration at a time when the far right movement is threatening the threads of interdependence world-wide.
Casting a Spell
Put on your hat, your tall pointed hat
with flies hooked around the edge;
stoke up the cauldron (dark, steaming cauldron)
to steep your unspeakable truths;
state some intentions, cursed real intentions,
without which your spell is mere mush;
whisper a name - your most secret name -
containing your essence as bait;
start humming a song, a black magic song
to weave dreams that can never be countered;
then add the words: transforming, true words,
that bite if you tread on their tails.
Spin your enchantment (beguiling enchantment) -
throw out some threads that will catch.
Create revolutions, chaotic solutions;
anything smaller, toss back.