The air bit coldly into Donald’s cheeks, causing him to shiver.

Walking through the shadowy darkness, he wished he took the flivver.

But there was just one way to get there, and it was down the river.

No roads than could be taken, just these woods that gave deep slivers.

He originally thought that Brigid was taking him to the store,

At least that’s what she told their mother as they burst out of the door.

Yet as they left the town, his questions she still did ignore,

And the walking they had to do was becoming a difficult chore.

“Brigid, where are we going? I don’t like the dark,” Donald did complain,

“I cannot see where I am going – I think it is going to rain!

My feet are getting tired and my sneakers have a stain!”

“Then go home,” Brigid tested, “I don’t have you wrapped up in a chain.

Go home to mommy and daddy and the silly Easter bunny –

Where there are no scary forests and everywhere is sunny.

I’m going to hop over some fires – you go home before your nose gets runny.”

“Jumping over fires?” Donald queried. “That’s not even funny!”

Brigid walked ahead and called to him, “Tell Mom I’ll be back.”

Donald hesitated as he watched her disappear into the surrounding black.

“Wait!” he shouted, and raced after her, afraid to lose her track.

They traveled yet again together, though he wished it was to a sugar shack.

Suddenly there came a break in the trees and they stepped into a red glow.

They looked up at a small hill above where a great fire did show,

And a wind so warm flew at their faces, making their hair blow.

“That’s Ostara Mountain,” Brigid pointed, “and its fire will melt all of the snow.

Let’s go visit the people and together we’ll welcome the spring.”

She dragged her brother up the hill where there was a dancing ring.

For a moment they stopped to greet Brigid and asked, “Who did you bring?”

“This is my twin Donald,” she answered, and whispered to him, “You don’t have to cling

To me – These are my friends.” She turned away when called to dance,

So before joining the others in a little circle prance,

She quickly mumbled to Donald to give the grown-ups a chance.

“Come on, Donald,” someone cooed, “come be the loyal knight with his lance.”

But Donald chose to sit out and watch them all sing and rant.

“I can’t believe,” he thought, “that Brigid brought me here of all places – I just can’t!

Look at her, spinning wildly and knowing every word of every chant.

She’ll be so tired when its done – she’ll do nothing but sit and pant.”

But as the final song finished, Brigid beckoned for him again.

Yet this sort of thing was nothing like a game of monopoly in the den,

And his mom and dad would never allow him to stay up when time was ten.

He never saw this thing before, and his parents were as old as these men and women,

So surely a game or two with them would be all right?

Donald stood and approached his awaiting sister, and the fire was so bright.

“Join hands, everyone,” said the leader. “Let’s fulfill our dreams tonight!”

They spun around the flame as one, singing to louder heights,

Singing something about spring, and the winter weather dying,

Something about finding our dreams, and Donald was actually trying

To, but once he saw one woman across the fire flying,

He was afraid she would come out burnt and crying.

Though she wasn’t. She was laughing in delight, saying, “My dreams will come true!”

Donald stared in confusion: “Can I do that too?”

He wanted to, so he turned to his sister to find out what to do.

“Just jump over the blaze,” Brigid instructed, “and if you see something blue

In it, your dreams will come true.” So he thought really hard

For a wish as he spun, hoping he wouldn’t die for his family to get an “I’m Sorry” card.

But then he finally found his wish: To have protection from burns – a safety guard.

So he leapt high into the air, feeling like a panther or leopard.

The air was hot and the redness was swallowing him up. He felt himself stall.

He was too frightened to look for blue, knowing he was about to fall.

“Look down,” someone said beside him, “Don’t just bawl.”

He opened his eyes, his sister’s name he desperately wanted to call,

But there she was at his side, protecting him, and she was all real.

“Look,” she said again, and he viewed the crackling flame where something was going from teal

To blue. And even before he saw the ground, he could feel

Himself hitting down on it hard. “It was blue! It was blue! I saw a blue wheel!”

Donald screamed in glee, not feeling himself get another sliver.

The dancing and fire-leaping continued until it was time to go home down the river.

But Donald didn’t want to go, not even in a flivver.

Yet he had to return to the Easter bunny with Brigid, and the thought now gave him a shiver.