The Witch-Maid, & Other Verses

A wandering narrator leads listeners into a moon‑dappled forest where a strange, pale witch discovers a fallen stranger, setting a scene that is both eerie and oddly tender. The opening poem blends vivid natural detail with a haunting, almost mythic dialogue, inviting you to linger on the tension between curiosity and dread. As the verses unfold, the collection moves from that spectral encounter to a series of concise, lyric sketches of light, country life, travel, and fleeting moments, each offering a fresh perspective on place and feeling.

Mackellar’s voice is intimate yet expansive, turning ordinary scenes—sun‑lit glades, distant plains, bustling markets—into small, resonant reveries. The poems vary in tone, from the solemn hush of a dead man’s smile to the bright, music‑like listing of colours that seems to sing in a higher key. Listeners will find a rich tapestry of imagery that feels both timeless and immediate, perfect for moments of quiet reflection.