The Maiden of the Forest

Alone I walked down a dark forest path,
when a strangely beautiful maiden appeared, as if from nowhere, and asked,
“Where are you going kind sir, and why are you here?”
I hesitantly admitted, “To that I am not clear.”

As a silence sat in I peered in wonder at her unique beauty.
She had raven black hair that was long and airy.
Her skin was milky white and like the pedal of a rose.
Her gown was long and silky smooth, and in the breeze it gently flowed.
Her eyes were of a color that words cannot describe.
I became trance-like fixed on them, as they were open so wide.

She motioned gently that I should follow her along.
I did so without question because to her I now belonged.
As we strolled leisurely down this ominous path,
it was almost as if she floated, her feet not touching the grass.

As she occasionally looked at me with an angelic smile,
all my fears, pain, and anguish began to subside.
The path seemed to brighten, as I felt inner peace like never before.
This beautifully sweet maiden I was coming to adore.

With this great inner calm, my deepest feelings came flooding out.
As I talked and talked, she offered sweet words of comfort all throughout.
Her words were a gentle balm that soothed a tormented soul.
She possessed deep and simple wisdom, a thrill to behold.

We walked along for hours, this angel as my outlet.
When we came to the end of the path, the hours had seemed like minutes.
“Don’t be frightened,” she said softly, as she motioned me clear.
“You will never be alone, I will always be here.”

As I left the forest path into the wide open clearing,
I looked back longingly as she was disappearing.
“How can I go on alone,” I thought, “into this uncertain frontier?”
And then her words I recalled, “Don’t be frightened . . . I will always be here.”