Vila's Song

A poem about the Slavic Fairy

This week's poem is about the Vila, a Slavic fairy and spirit. Folklore about Vila’s can vary from place to place, but they are often described as beautiful female spirits who accompany a hero or can work against a person who has crossed them. They are neither benevolent nor malevolent spirits; rather, they are autonomous beings that act in ways they see as just or in their interests. The Vila has its roots in Slavic and possibly Norse mythology, having a history deep in Europe’s pre-Christian mythological past. She has featured prominently in Serbian epic poetry and other European literature, but more than that she has even been found in the Harry Potter novels as a part of modern literature, exemplifying the mythology’s timelessness.

Stories about the Vilas have described how their beauty and their songs could enchant heroes and regular men. It has been said that their voices are so beautiful that a men are known to listen to them sing for days foregoing everything else including meals. Their song and dance has been known to entice young men and shepherds to sing and dance with them while the Vila’s distribute happiness or misfortune to those they enchant. Although, when they choose a hero to support, they are a fierce and loyal ally—a spirit whose prophecy and guidance could lead a lost wanderer out of the forest. A being whose powers and magic could heal a wounded warrior or give him the power he needs to overcome great and seemingly impossible tasks and challenges.

Among the magical feats they are capable of Vila’s have been known to control the weather and transform into animals such as birds. They have also been known to have eagles as their helpers. The have been likened to the Goddess Diana and recognized in the writings of Procopious as similar to Greek Nymphs.

A beautiful female spirit whose power and influence have both enchanted warriors and poets, guided lost wanderers to safety, or led intruders in their territory to their demise. Elegant hair and scantily clad, with a voice that can hypnotize and a strength that no mortal man can hope to possess. It is no wonder that their story and their mythology has survived generations and centuries, and further no wonder that their presence and voice have enchanted through the generations.

Vila’s Song

Crunching ‘neath my soles did thunder, walking through a fog I wonder,

Depth and darkness the forest hath, have I walked and lost my path,

Blindly chasing voices dancing, the vila’s voice my fate is chancing,

Intoxicated now bewonder, begging as my soul she plunder.

Where, oh where did my eye’s follow, entrance into something hollow?

No this dance is deeper yet still, once empty, my soul she does fill.

“Wander further chase, pursue, in my lair your mind’s coup”

I heard her penetrate my mind, her song, my heart: now intertwined.

In the depth of this dark forest, the vila rules with her song’s chorus,

I heard the song one time long past, my life since then a ship no mast,

Returning to this place once more, I wonder of the ancients lore,

The clearest sky the morning star, from the dark come a nightjar.

Loose your grasp spirit of abyss, flutter away I tell you this:

I enter here of my volition, my capture planned my admission.

Wander further chase pursue, I return here to follow through,

I heard her penetrate my mind, my need for freedom disinclined,

Intoxicated now bewonder, the end near, the vila’s plunder,

On the leaves they’re singing, dancing, deeper still my fate is chancing,

No longer freedom do I hath, continue down her chosen path,

My life of old a distant thunder, walking through a fog I wonder.