Megan Branning
Wand of Iron
Wand of iron tames a lion.
Wand of hawthorn calms a wasp.
Branch of beech anoints your feet,
guides them home if you are lost.
Twig of lilac holds the sky back
when the rain is charging down.
Switch of ash makes tigers dash
if they wander near the town.
Cut of pine is used to find
that which you might seek.
Wand of linden keeps it hidden
for a year but not a week.
Rod of brass will let you pass
through mountains made of stone.
Sprig of plum protects you from
the shadows in your bone.
Plank of elder gives you shelter.
Root of poplar tears it out.
Silver thread can raise the dead,
only if you face your doubt.
_______________
Megan Branning is a youth services librarian living in Pittsburgh with her husband. Her writing has been published by Asimov’s, Space & Time, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, and others.
Author’s Notes and Backstory: This poem came from my curiosity about the properties of different materials. Alchemy has always intrigued me, but there are more practical examples, too. Woodworkers choose the right wood depending on factors like hardness and color. Sculptors choose the best stone or metal for each piece they create. I took a more whimsical approach and just had fun with it.
Editor’s Comments and Image Citations: The many “wands” of metal, wood, and flowers are suggestive metaphors, arguably linked to the Bible, but also to various cultures, traditions, and legends. Therefore, this poem is nuanced on many levels. The image was created by openart.ai using two lines from the poem: Twig of lilac holds the sky back / when the rain is charging down.