Woman Riding West
Rider of night and nightmares,
of escape and inescapable, Epona
in her cloak the dark of moonless night
flees light of day.
Her white horse plunges through crossroad fires as she races west.
Let her give you rest, and if sleep evades she brews bitter valerian. She knows
our eyes must close one third of our hours.
Jung understood why she lets terrors emerge.
Startled, we rise sweating, pulse pounding when Epona’s white horse
carries us where we’d rather not go.
Epona is the Celtic horse goddess. She is also a bringer of dreams, dream enchantments, and nightmares.
10 thoughts on "Woman Riding West"
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Until now I didn’t understand the significance of Epona’s name in LOZ: Ocarina of Time so thank you for revealing the folk lore to me through this piece.
I enjoy the image of Epona as a tireless courier galloping around the world every night and day fulfilling her job much to both our delight and reluctance.
Thank you so much, Hunter!
Vivid, relatable imagery: “Rider of night and nightmares/of escape and inescapable.”
Thanks!
Full of fantasy and drama.. Ending is stellar! Now i know who to blame.
LoL Seriously!
Thank you for the feedback!
I loved learning about Epona!
Love:
Rider of night and nightmares
she brews bitter valerian
Thanks ever so much. My thesis project for my MFA was poems inspired by women in myth and legend. I’ve been a myth freak since childhood! LoL
I have experienced her dream-gifts! Now I have someone to blame/thank/fear!
LoL SERIOUSLY!