The Shadow Wood by Gareth Clegg

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