Cloaked in red, she stands in prayer
What lurks behind, she is unaware

Within her hands she holds the key
To unlock this forest’s mystery

But she is the only one to know
Will never let these secrets go

Though another lies in wait
For that perfect moment, unlock the fate

Of all who dwell within these woods
To release the forest’s ghostly goods

At last she senses, this maiden fair
Of who he is, she best beware

As he creeps closer, where she stands
And reaches out his unearthly hands

In hopes he can retrieve this key
Believes it belongs to only he

One more step, he is oh so near
And just like that, she disappears

Never able to uncover the mystery
It is locked away, the key, with she.

©2021 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Image by Karen Nadine from Pixabay