The forest was tall and gnarled
When I entered it one dark noon.
Grey clouds swept by overhead.

And the birds swooped.

Crawling past thick, knotted branches
Scuffing up my hands and my knees
Wiping dirt off my sweaty brow.

And the ghosts led.

I then came upon a lone aspen
With gold, shimmering leave - so rich-
And trembling, quaking branches.

And the tree cried.

As her tears fell, so did mine
They hit the forest floor with pain
That echoed off the surrounding trunks like bullets.

And the sky hid.