A spell for breaking barriers and enclosures by Christopher Scott Thompson

Wild powers of the earth and air,

High walls have risen everywhere

And where we once in common held

The woods and fields, now trees are felled

To fence us in on every side

And satisfy the greed and pride

Of those who buy and sell it all.

But something doesn’t love a wall…

Power of earth, cast down these stones

And shatter them like splintered bones.

Power of air, come blow them down

Until they’re broken on the ground.

Power of fire, burn out these walls

Until the structure sags and falls.

Power of water, rage and flood

And sweep away these walls with mud.

Power of ice, build up so thick

You bend and buckle every brick.

Power of lightning, fast and just,

Blast walls apart and leave them dust!

Not merely walls of wood and stone

That close us in. Not walls alone,

But all enclosures you can find

Of wood or plastic, word or mind

Intended to enclose or fence

Our open space. In recompense,

Oh earth and wind and fire and flood,

I offer you, not smoke and blood,

But something dear to gods and men –

The chance to be yourselves again.

Christopher Scott Thompson

Christopher Scott Thompson is a writer, historical fencing instructor and founding member of Clann Bhride, the Children of Brighid. He was active with Occupy Minneapolis and Occupy St. Paul. His political writing can be found at https://alienationorsolidarity.wordpress.com/.