Castle In The Woods
Such a balmy day it was
So I went for a stroll
Slowing down then I pause
To watch a furry mole

Continued on the dirt road
I stepped into a hole
Out jumped a brown toad
And then a black bird crowed

Up ahead was a wood
Aged trees so big around
I Would hug them if I could
None bigger anywhere to be found

Entering the forest by a grassy knoll
There out of a bluish mist
Ran a wispy bluish troll
Startled my ankle did I twist

The forest was so thick and shaded
By the big, old trees
I had to walk aided
By the buzzing bees

Into the woods I went some more
Thicker and darker it became
I think I came to the very core
So deep in the woods I forgot my name

Suddenly all was quiet in the forest glen
Not a leaf did flutter
Nothing moved, not robin or wren
Not one sound did they utter

I saw a drawbridge over a moat
Connected to a castle door
On the water nothing did float
Now I needed to see more

The castle wall was made of stone
As far as I could tell
The castle was over grown
With vines and there was a tower bell

The tower stood so tall and lean
I couldn't see the top
Wondered if it housed a queen
Waiting for her head to drop

The castle looked foreboding
As I walked across the moat
The drawbridge was corroding
This cause a lump in my throat

What if I should chance to fall
In the water below?
Who would hear my frightened call
And help on me bestow?

I made it to the castle door
Without an incident
The open door I couldn't ignore
It wasn't a coincident

It beckoned me to enter in
I did at my own risk
Goose bumps appeared on my skin
My steps were very brisk

Inside the foyer I stood quietly
Adjusting my eyes to the light
Waiting to see what I would see
I was not prepared for the sight

Every inch was covered with dust
Webs spun by spiders long dead
All the metal was covered with rust
Whoever lived here just fled

I made my way to the tower room
To see who was inside
It could well be someone's tomb
And that I could not abide

The door creaked as it swung open wide
I scanned the room with my eye
With relief I wiped my brow and sighed
No one in here did die

A spinning wheel stood there alone
In the middle of the round tower room
Dried leaves in the window had blown
While sinking feelings did loom

I searched the rooms one by one
They were empty and dusty all
I kept searching I wasn't done
There was one more room down the hall

Her head lay on a pillow of silk
The bed was solid gold
Her skin was white as milk
When I touched her she wasn't cold

I kissed her mouth
She opened her eyes
My mind went south
It was such a surprise

"Thank you for waking me ,she said with a smile
Thank you for making me free
I've been waiting all this while
For someone to come and kiss me"

Birds began singing, flora turned green
All life returned to the land
Dust disappeared and the castle is clean
The maiden and I walk hand in hand

There is a castle in the woods hidden deep
With a drawbridge and vines all around
The way to the castle is a secret I'll keep
This castle will never be found.

Copyright © 2005 Lunaria (Lila May Guptill)