A binding spell protects me
from the broken circling words
that fall chanting from the cave
of your mouth like fists
to pummel my repute.
Whispering a vow
while sewing a poppet,
my needle works through
the crook in its neck
where I stop to insert
your words in the space
between its nonexistent ears,
stitching them silent.
Hidden from the sun
your slander stops its drone
beneath Montana’s badlands
bound in a doll’s head,
buried in Makoshika,
a few hundred miles away.
Brenda Warren 2013
Process Notes: A good friend dabbled in witchcraft when we were younger. The word binding sparked a memory of a binding spell she showed me once. As the details were foggy, I did a search and found this recipe for binding. It fed my poem. Personally, I don’t dabble in witchcraft. Casting spells to control others goes against my core belief in self-determination.
Visit The Sunday Whirl
undercaws 
I think sometimes we do not know the powers we posess. Just as prayer for a stranger can be believed to help in their healing…
Strange encounters do memories bring.
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I didn’t notice a single word from the list in the poem. I forgot that there was a list, in fact. Very interesting piece, especially opening. Great work. I really did enjoy the list this week. Thank you.
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Spooky, witchy, wonderful!
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Witchy words. Strange and curious. This feels very personal and real, you don’t need witchcraft, this is magic in itself. I love it.
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Wonderful witchy words.
Anna :o]
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I was definitely thinking voodoo as I read this.
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Powerful and provocative read!
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I love the direction you went in here, Brenda. Witchy good indeed.
Pamela
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I hear you, sister. Breaking the spells that bind…my wordle is about a different kind of spell.
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Ah Brenda, ’tis why you lead and we follow. Your woven words are a binding spell to keep us coming back week in and out.
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Incredible, really I love your writing, envy it even lol Man I wish I could write so well consider me very impressed
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Yes Brenda – we were on the same witch wonderful wave-length today – terrific poem 🙂
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Unique take on the prompt words. I especially loved the first verse! Womensong
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Fearsome, frightening in its passion. How we wish for such torment to stop. I suppose the point here is that it is a comfort to solve the problem this way rather that take more direct action that would only compound the situation. For all that it is beautifully written and vivid in its impression.
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whew, the first stanza is a breathless rush, setting the stage well for what follows.
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This is witchy good and the imagery of stitching the words into silence is so powerful, Brenda.
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Really like where you took these words, very different and unusual, which of course piques interest. As I read through it, I could feel those words being sown into the doll, and then wondered if the words we sow together have that type of power as well. Maybe I shouldn’t go there? Still like the poem and your clear images,
Elizabeth
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Not a friend I would ever want to cross!
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I think witchcraft is scary stuff. I prefer to leave things to chance. Your first stanza is my favorite; gorgeous writing, Brenda!
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not much of a witchcraft person myself either, but I do believe that words have an incredible power. I would like to think that there is a way to bind those words that have hurt us, and hide them away.
but woe to those that find them … and unbind them.
nice write.
😉
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Wow so different a take on the prompt words!! Magic,spells and witchcraft and dark secrets!!
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You found the perfect painting for your post; and as always you created a fine poem. I particularly like its out-of-the-ordinariness…made even more meaningful by your share at the end.
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