The Washerwoman’s Lament
By Penny AmaraBeware Ye of the Bean Nighe
Her tears never run dry and shall forever weep
By the creek she stands with
The touch of death and sorrow
Water of souls she drinks
And eats off of your rattling bones
Beware Ye of the Washerwoman of the creek
Her heart is empty but still she burns with life
Bloody fingertips work to the bone while
The souls of the dead bleed through the stones
Beneath
Beware ye of a Woman Scorned
She cries deafening tears
And dances with the fabrics of the cold and gone
As she floats in her waters of ice
Mourning the babe that left her arms
Forever empty of those she holds dear
Empty they shall stay evermore
Beware Ye of the Bean Nighe
Heed these words for they are blessèd
Or she and the creek will have your head
Dead and gone with the evil that killed you
Forever washed yet never clean
Of the washerwoman’s deadly gleam
This poem is the basis of my in-progress novel named The Woman of the Creek. It is based off of the Scottish folktale about the Bean Nighe (Ben-knee-uh) who is an omen of death . She is often seen at the edge of a body of water washing blood off of the clothes of someone about to die. This project is very near and dear to my heart, and I cannot wait to be able to share it with you one day!
