Let me tell you a tale of the Shadow Wood
A place of darkness, misunderstood
Legends, Myths and Stories told
Keep away all but the bold
A girl sat shaded by an ancient oak
Enveloped by it’s dappled cloak
But as she leaned into that trunk
From within came a deep… dark… thunk
She waited till the night drew near
With strangely not an ounce of fear
The wood stood silent as the grave
No signs of life at all it gave
No animal or bird or sound
Naught but silence all around
Nothing moved, the air was still
Just a sudden deathly chill
As darkness fell, another sound
And warm light spilled across the ground
Her shadows shifted as she stood
And turned to face the Shadow Wood
Oh foolish child can you not see
The danger of that ancient tree
From deep within a golden glow
Spread through its roots an eerie show
Dancing shadows light and dark
Shifting shapes on roots and bark
A silent carnival gold and black
The girl reached out but the roots… reached… back
Shrouded in their warm embrace
Tendrils gently cupped her face
Her blood runs cold, mind locked in fear
The roots so slowly draw… her… near
Deeper, darker, down and down
They drag her underneath the ground
Forever falling through the night
No sense of sound, smell, taste or sight
Just the air that rushed on past
Her shivering limbs until at last
The noose constricts—end of the line
Suspended, hanging out of time
As light retreated from her eyes
All around her, mocking lies
Poking, prodding, truth or dare
You’ll never ever stay out there
Not when the sun has finally set
You wouldn’t dare, you’ll lose this bet
She would show them all, she said
And off to Shadow Wood she fled
She screamed and flung her arms about
But not a sound was coming out
And now what dreadful end was fated
Deep in the ancient tree she waited
The frantic antics of this child
Whose will was strong but mind ran wild
Did naught but entertain the wood
In which she now silently stood
Throughout the wood moans filled the air
from all the children standing there
They stretched, sap running red as blood
Welcome to the Shadow Wood
So if you think the village low
In children, now you finally know
That though they warn them all when young
They never listen, there’s always one
The one and only who could lift
The Shadow Wood’s eternal gift
But if you’re smart, when daylight’s fled
You’ll stay at home safe in your bed
Stay at home throughout the night
Safe from branches grasping tight
Stay at home just like you should
Safe from ancient Shadow Wood
A solid reason not to wander around in the woods at night. Just the kind of spooky verse to start Halloween 2021. Thank you, Gareth.
ReplyDeleteSpooky story, well told in verse, Gareth. Thank you. I really enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteVery creepy, puts you off going into woods at all. Excellent, Gareth
ReplyDelete