NINE SISTERS

Nine sisters walk in a tight grey line,

Where the tree's shadow hides the vine.

No voices lifted, no lips to pray,

But the sound of knuckles in the clay.

One sister counts the clock ticks

Two sisters light the candles wick

Three and Four have faces of stone,

Five whispers secrets all alone

Six and Seven hold timepieces akin

Their eyes are black and their souls thin

Eight is searching for one more

While Nine locks the chapel’s heavy door.

They glide above the floorboards cold,

With a secret that the bells haven't told.

They whisper "Silence" in the creeping gloom,

And invite you to the join the room.

When the clock strikes zero, they all arrive,

And none in the house remain alive.

Nine nuns chanting in the dark,

Leaving on the soul a permanent mark.

The poem, chant or eerie song comes to its end--whatever you've chosen to share in the glow of the campfire tonight. And from it we take more than the meaning of the words. We gather the craft beneath them.

Around a campfire, the atmosphere is often charged with an energy that transforms simple gatherings into something deeply resonant and primal. When a poem or chant is introduced into this setting, it can evoke feelings of fear and unease because it transcends the boundaries of ordinary speech. Instead of merely conveying information or storytelling, it feels as though a deliberate pattern is being constructed, layer by layer, echoing an ancient tradition that ties back to the very roots of human expression. The repeated words, with their steady rhythm, weave a tapestry that slips past the rational mind, settling deep within the body, syncing harmoniously with the natural rhythms of breath, heartbeat, and the crackling pop of the fire as it dances in the night air.

In the enveloping darkness surrounding the campfire, the circle of light creates a stark contrast that makes everything beyond its reach feel watchful and alive. The flickering faces cast by the flames create an atmosphere of intimacy and tension, while the shadows stretch and contort, seemingly reaching out into the night. Every small sound that emerges from the trees—be it the rustle of leaves, the call of a distant owl, or the scurry of unseen creatures—seems to be perfectly timed to the pauses between lines of the chant or poem, amplifying the sense of suspense and anticipation.

When a chant is spoken in unison, it transcends the individuality of each voice, transforming into a communal experience that binds the participants together in a shared moment. No single voice owns the chant; rather, it becomes a collective expression that carries with it the uneasy weight of something far older than the people who are reciting it. This shared act of vocalization fosters a sense of belonging, yet simultaneously invokes a primal fear of the unknown, as the words echo with the echoes of those who have come before.

As the chant progresses, if it hints at rules—phrases like “say this,” “don’t look back,” “count the steps,” or “keep the flame alive”—the listeners begin to feel as though they are not merely passive observers but active participants in a ritual that demands their engagement. This involvement heightens the tension, as the participants may start to sense an unseen presence, as if the very act of reciting the words has summoned something from the depths of the woods.

The Echo of the Unknown

The scariest part of this experience often occurs in the moment that follows the last line of the chant. As silence descends, nobody moves right away, caught in a collective breath held in anticipation. For a heartbeat, it feels as though the woods might respond, as if the chant was less a mere story and more an invitation to something lurking just beyond the fire's light. This moment of stillness is pregnant with possibility, leaving everyone to wonder if they have truly stirred the spirits of the forest or if they are simply left with the echoes of their own fears and imaginations. The campfire, once a source of warmth and comfort, now becomes a fragile barrier between the known and the unknown, between safety and the tantalizing thrill of what might be lurking just outside the flickering glow.

The Chant of the Nun

Similar to the old story of Bloody Mary, where chanting in front of a mirror is said to summon her reflection, reciting the nun poem raises the question: will the nine appear? This chant, steeped in folklore, invites the participants to confront their fears and the unknown. Just as the act of calling upon a name in the darkness can evoke a presence, so too does the nun poem weave its own tapestry of suspense and anticipation. The participants may find themselves wondering if they are merely reciting words or if they are invoking something that lies beyond the veil of reality, waiting to emerge into the flickering light of the campfire.