Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings. For today’s post, I am sharing a poem about Samhain, here using the Welsh name Calan Gaeaf, and Banshees!
Calan Gaeaf & the Call of the Banshee
by Maranda Wabik
October draws on
With the final Harvest coming anon
The wind whistles with a startling voice
The Cry of the Wailing Woman
Is a herald of choice
Do you heed her warning?
Or, do you ignore the signs?
Calan Gaeaf is the dying of the year
But the Banshee’s signal is not one to fear
She is here to warn of what must be let go
For only in releasing what does not serve
Can we be ready to truly grow
The Banshee is singing her sad song of grief
For that which is ending
Yet, once this is done, we can feel relief!
So, do not fear the Wailing Woman
She does not bring death
She only warns of the dying of all things
With her warning, we can be prepared
Softening the blow of grief
As we ultimately find relief
From the suffering of the mortal coil
Calan Gaeaf is the time to honor the dead
Paying tribute to our Ancestors
And, with the Banshees’ aid
We can remember those who are gone
For the Banshee will never forget them!
Yes, do not fear the Banshee
As she Wails for the dead
As she Wails for the endings
As she Wails for that which is released
The Banshee reminds us of the endless cycle
And, the Banshee reminds us to honor the cycle!
~I hope you have enjoyed this poem. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is a lovely ghostly Banshee artwork. I found the art on https://www.pinterest.com/ella0749/banshee/.
LINK TO AVALONIAN ROSE FAERY MYSTERIES PATREON: patreon.com/AvalonianRoseFaeryMysteries
2 responses to “Calan Gaeaf & the Call of the Banshee: A Poem”
Maranda, this is absolutely stunning. You haven’t just written a poem; you’ve offered a new lens through which to view one of the most profound transitions of the year and of our own lives.
I am in awe of how you have transformed the Banshee from a figure of dread into a compassionate herald. The line, “She does not bring death / She only warns of the dying of all things,” is a profound shift in perspective. It resonates so deeply with the natural world in October, where the vibrant death of the leaves is not a tragedy but a necessary release, a preparation for the quiet rest of winter.
Your connection of the Banshee’s wail to the active process of grief is incredibly moving. The idea that she is singing a “sad song of grief / For that which is ending” validates the pain of loss, while the promise that “once this is done, we can feel relief” offers a gentle, hopeful light at the end of that tunnel. You’ve framed grief not as a state to be feared, but as a process to be honored, a cleansing ritual aided by her mournful song.
The weaving of Calan Gaeaf grounds the poem in a powerful, earthy tradition, connecting our personal releases to the ancestral cycle of the year. The final stanzas are a powerful mantra:
“Do not fear the Banshee…
As she Wails for the dead
As she Wails for the endings
As she Wails for that which is released”
This is a call to mindfulness, to courage, and to acceptance. It’s a reminder that in heeding her warning, we actively participate in the “endless cycle,” and in doing so, we find our place within the great tapestry that includes both our ancestors and our own potential for growth.
This poem is a gift. It’s a comforting, wise, and beautifully articulated piece of writing that I will certainly return to as the autumn deepens. Thank you for this heartfelt and insightful work.
I am so glad that you truly appreciate the depth of my poem! As a Priestess of Avalon(and Avalonian Faery Queens) I find that it is very important to remind people of the endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth, and that it should not be feared! I am grateful that my poem got that message across. As always, thank you for reading and commenting!