A FLASH IN THE DARK
The Whispering Garden
"Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
how does your garden grow?
With lych bells, and broken shells,
sing dead Soules, all in a row."
how does your garden grow?
With lych bells, and broken shells,
sing dead Soules, all in a row."
The Wyrd Olde Woman lived in her cottage in the shadow of the old church ruin on the hill. She tended her garden growing all kinds of fruit and vegetables, apples and pears, neeps and tatties, and even kept a few fat birds for eggs. Apart from the apple tree there was also an ancient yew, and the entrance to the garden was via the old lych gate that had once separated the yard of the church from the lane that passed by.
Although her produce was highly regarded, and she herself renowned in the herbal arte, the Wyrd Olde Woman’s door was not well frequented, and rumours abound. They spoke of the doctrine of signatures whereby in the book of Nature’s secrets can be read the application of plants and herbs: Bloodroot and Boneset, Lungwort and Spleenwort, Eyebright and Snakeroot, as she says, “It’s not just the Mandrake which maketh a man.” And many wondered how deep beneath hallowed ground those plants’ roots do grow.
Some say that they have heard the garden whispering in the hilltop breeze. Others say that they have read messages written in the midnight meanderings of slugs and snails. Others that sometimes the Wyrd Olde Woman releases to roam a hungry moon-night hare, at which the whispers in the garden become wails in the night.
Whatever the truth, the Wyrd Olde Woman continually tends her whispering garden, which by her cunning craft grows well.
Although her produce was highly regarded, and she herself renowned in the herbal arte, the Wyrd Olde Woman’s door was not well frequented, and rumours abound. They spoke of the doctrine of signatures whereby in the book of Nature’s secrets can be read the application of plants and herbs: Bloodroot and Boneset, Lungwort and Spleenwort, Eyebright and Snakeroot, as she says, “It’s not just the Mandrake which maketh a man.” And many wondered how deep beneath hallowed ground those plants’ roots do grow.
Some say that they have heard the garden whispering in the hilltop breeze. Others say that they have read messages written in the midnight meanderings of slugs and snails. Others that sometimes the Wyrd Olde Woman releases to roam a hungry moon-night hare, at which the whispers in the garden become wails in the night.
Whatever the truth, the Wyrd Olde Woman continually tends her whispering garden, which by her cunning craft grows well.
A version of this tale made it onto the Free Flash Fiction competition shortlist in March 2021.
First Created: February 2021
Last Mutated: December 2021
240 Words
First Created: February 2021
Last Mutated: December 2021
240 Words