naturally

catefrances

i came across an abandoned cabin
as i walked through darkened woods
the window panes were broken
and the front door hung off one hinge
the trees around had shed their leaves
and now those leaves blanketed the porch
a corn dolly swung from a crossbeam
spiders spun their home where ever their webs caught
the wind picked up and i shivered with cold
i pulled my jacket tighter and quickened my pace away
something had happened in that cabin
i could feel it within my being
something unseen and shattering
as i walked down the path towards the road
i chanced upon a marker.
was it a grave or something less ominous
as i bent down to clear the fallen foliage
i heard a voice behind me say,
'a tragedy it was miss, yes that's what it was.'
my hand flew to my chest, the voice not loud
but unexpected especially when i thought i was alone.
the man looked as old as the woods
his skin as creased as the bark on the trees
'a little girl drowned in the lake, it drove her father mad'
i walked with the old man for miles as he spoke
he had been born in these woods
and he reckoned he was gonna die there too
his voice was so melodious i forgot my misgivings
and just listened to his tales
at a fork in the path we bade farewell
and i was alone again.