Only darkness lay there
A place filled with mysteries and unknowns
He stood there, staring, taking in the sights
On the forest edge
~~~~
From the shelter of his home
Percival had heard it there
Something familiar, something strange
On the forest edge
~~~~
Then came a calling,
He heard another calling
His mother called, “Percival Dear”
Come back, back away from that forest edge
~~~~
In the darkness of night
He would gather the trash
At his home that sat, not too far
From the forest edge
~~~~
He had always been wary of it
Fearful of what may lie within
Never knowing who or what
Sat in wait, behind the forest edge
~~~~
He dared not stray too far from home
Nor venture close
There were hauntings there
On the forest edge
~~~~
He moved with haste
Percival worked fast-paced
To get back inside
Safe away from the forest edge
~~~~
But it called to him
His name carried in the wind
“Come here to us, with us here”
Here beyond the forest edge
~~~~
Mother watched from the window
Sat watching her son be swayed
Drawn in closer yet still
To the forest edge
~~~~
Percival had seen them there
Creeping and sneaking there
Running up and down
They ran all around the forest edge
~~~~
“Come here to us, yes with us”
“Percival. No dear! Not there.”
“Please. No son” mother cried
As Percival moved steadily closer to the forest edge
~~~~
"Yes Percival, come closer still
Listen as I call to you
Follow my voice, let it guide you here
Here with us on the forest edge"
~~~~
Percival fought and refused
But with all his might he could not turn back
Each footstep meant a second sooner
He’d be lost to the forest edge
~~~~
It was the fear in him
He feared the worst
That had to be the explanation for it all
What he heard, what drew him near, to the forest edge
~~~~
There was no fight great enough
No cry loud enough
Any refusal strong enough
To keep Percival from the forest edge
~~~~
Now he stood idly there
Right up against the darkness
And it greeted him there
Mother, still watching from her window
As her son disappeared beyond the dark, forest edge
+++++++++REMARKS++++++++++
Inspiration for this story/poem came about one night when I sat in my room staring at the forest behind my house. I allowed myself to fall into the tricks of my mind. As the shadows swayed and shifted, I envisioned beings scurrying up and down the forest edge. Some stood still, others retreated into darkness. But, all were ominous and mysterious.
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[May 19, 2024]
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Comments (5)
So evocative x
Loved the flow of the story, amazing work!
Lost to the forest edge, drawn in by shadows of the trees and nature..
A unique infrastructure of poetic storytelling. You have elements here that are quite compelling.
This was beautifully done! It felt like a lullaby that itself was drawing me into the forest edge. Nice touch!