Image by radianthorizon via Flickr

The woods were just steps from my own back door but

the foreboding they held could make my blood run cold.

A legend, a rumor, a spooky story was told

of the rickety shack that to this day stood there still.

SOMEONE HAD DIED THERE, A CHILD JUST LIKE ME.

All of us kids of the neighborhood had heard,

so we skirted its periphery while we played and explored.

The house was a small one and built out of wood

with four wide, wobbly steps that led up to the door.

The steps were now tilted and cracking with decay

and there was a large hole in the porch that had rotted away.

Some of the windows were shattered and busted

and those still intact were covered by years of thick dusting.

One day I was out there goofing around with my brother,

when he double-dog dared me to go touch the door.

He cajoled and enticed me with a promise of candy or such,

if I did the unthinkable and obeyed his request.

Well it took a lot of coaxing and prodding me on

but slowly I picked my way over those dilapidated steps.

And approaching my goal while shaking like a leaf,

I slowly reached out my hand with a great tremble and twitch,

when from somewhere behind me came a shrieking, bellowed shout–

“LOOK OUT FOR THE WITCH!!”

Well, with adrenaline surging, I was thrust into forward

and spun on my heels and flew over those stairs–

(right past that big oaf)

and sped all the way home–safe to the sofa.

Why did I listen to such a rotten brother as he, who was

always teasing and tormenting me?

I had wanted him to like me, to think I was brave

but finally I had learned my lesson that day:

YOU CAN NEVER TRUST THE DEPRAVED!

But in spite of our trepidation around that old house,

we kids had years of fun in those back woods of ours.

Making forts, climbing trees and just lounging about,

those days in the woods were a kid’s paradise.

And as we grew older, we learned the truth of that cottage,

it had just been abandoned–only deserted that’s all–

no mayhem had been committed there, never at all.

Entry for Thursday Poets’ Rally 42 :http://thursdaypoetsrallypoetry.blogspot.com/