Come Away, Come Away

A Poem

Photo by Hamid Tajik on Unsplash

wander with me, if you will,
down this winding path in the wood,
to places we could never imagine
with our limited scope of imagination

as you near the heartwood tree,
watch your steps carefully —
those fey children love to dance
and they may spirit you away

twirl around the leaves, if you wish,
and make the forest wheel your own
as you whirl and whirl and whirl again,
too dizzy to stop, your heart racing

in the center of the woods
lies the sleeping queen,
but take care in being quiet —
she’s been asleep a hundred years

come away, come away,
and step into the forest’s realm
where you’ll never know sorrow
by the hands of humans again

but take care as you go deeper —
once you’re in, you’ll never be out —
because the forest takes, indeed,
and keeps every new marvel

come away, come away —
you hear the call, so heed it
come away, come away —
you’ll never be lost again

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