Legend of the Willow Maiden

This story or folklore, whatever you want to call it, is known throughout most of the world. Its origins are unknown.

A young man walked through the forest, with his hunting bow and a quiver. There he heard a young girl singing, so he followed the sounds of her voice to a grove below.
Here he found the maiden, who lives in a willow, her hair running as red as leaves in the autumn, her eyes as green as emeralds. He called to her as she listened, from a ring of toadstools red. "Come with me my maiden, from your willow bed"
She looked at him serenely and only shook her head saying: "I can not leave this place, for I am bound to this tree. Don't ask me to follow where you lead"
He returned several days to listen to her sing.


One day the young man returned with a flower, its beauty enough for a queen.
He stood under the willow and handed the yellow bloom to the maiden.
"You have captured my heart, come and be my wife" he said to her.
She looked at him serenely and only shook her head saying: "I can not leave this place, for I am bound to this tree. Don't ask me to follow where you lead"


When he returned home at night, he took his axe, as sharp as a knife and went back to the willow. "I'll take the green eyed maiden and she shall be my wife. With her I'll raise my children, with her I'll live my life"
The maiden wept as she heard him say "I'll free you from your tree" and when he used his axe to bring down her ancient tree.
Now your willow is fallen, now you are not bound to it anymore.
She looked at him through tears and only shook her head saying: "I can not leave this place, for I am bound to this tree. Don't ask me to follow where you lead"
He grabbed her arm and took her with him through the forest.

She followed him out the forest and collapsed upon the earth. Her feet have walked but a distance from the green place of her birth. She faded into a flower to bloom one last eve. He could not take from the forest which was not meant to leave.

_{Inspired from 'The Willow Maid' - Erutan/Kate Covington}

Historical Basis

There have been accounts of hunters, scouts and other people that usual roam the forests alone encountering Dryads and sometimes becoming infatuated with them for their beauty.
A variation of this folklore of the hunter and the maiden in the willow could have happened at some time in the past.

Cultural Reception

This story is perceived by most as a story to read to an audience in song as entertainment. It is also told as a serious story to children to teach them that one can not always have everything in life and if one goes too far, one might even destroy the very thing one loves and is trying to attain.

Date of Setting

Spring of 147