Nightfall,
and with it an ominous chill,
then fear,
overpowering...
You hear the hoot of an owl,
smell woodsmoke,
see a cabin- there, in the clearing-
and you think, humans?
then wonder- friend or foe?
And there comes a sound
as if of chanting,
pleasant, melodious
almost like prayer
it is in a language
foreign, indecipherable
and the voice pulls you closer
spellbound-
( though a part of you wants
to slip away,
back, into the night...)
But the unknown is revealed
by one word,
"Welcome"
it comes thickly accented
spoken by a woman
gnarled as a hag,
though seemingly benevolent.
And behind her stands a child,
- an angelic, black-eyed boy
he carries a tray of pastries,
and tiny porcelain cups
brimming with tea.