~ Copse ‘n’ Corpse (Part 2) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
When then a subtle single shift,
A lifting of the gloom,
Twas if sunlight reappeared, or
Darkness left some room.
~
I wasn’t sure as I gazed,
Through haze to where he’d stood,
But the hatted scarecrow,
Had left the darkly wood.
~
In his stead a woman knelt,
Knelt weeping on the floor.
She paused to pray but briefly,
Before shedding tears some more.
~
Beside a graveside softly sighing,
In dappled shade of Yews,
Here her hands busied tidying,
Dying flowers, blackened blooms.
~
Weathered headstone granite grim,
Chiselled, grizzled, letters dim,
To one unknown whose body lay,
Six-foot deep in soils of grey.
~
With tender touch thin fingers traced,
Soft lips mouthed a name,
“Nevermore,” she quietly said,
“Come back to me again.”
~
Spilling tears she looked at me,
“I am the Nightingale,” said she,
“Whose love lies lost beneath the sea,”
“Whose heart is lost to melancholy.”
~
“Twas early morn at crack of dawn,”
“When three stole him away,”
“Beat, bound, hung him high,”
“Until first light next day.”
~
“Then cut down, spliced into four,”
“Scattered across the forest floor,”
“But not his heart, for that was locked,”
“Inside a sunken metal box.”
~
When then she showed her palm to me,
Where-in there lay a tarnished key,
Twas old and gold and radiant,
Fashioned most beautifully.
~
“For thee,” said she slowly rising,
“So as to go where I cannot be:”
“Unlock the box beneath the sea,”
“Set-free his heart,” said she.
~
Her words faded upon a breeze,
Short, sudden, moving quickly,
One moment there, the next she’d gone –
But for the echo of a Nightingale’s song.
~
I paused to ponder, to reflect upon,
All she said, all that happened.
What had I witnessed? What did I see?
Everything was complete mystery!
~
I wondered why she’d come to me,
How I’d help her destiny.
“And what of the box found under the sea?”
“Where Nevermore’s heart is bound?”
~
I felt confused but yet quite certain,
I’d find more beyond this forest curtain: or else,
Why did I have eyes to see?
Why else reveal this mystery?
~
Someway ahead a pathway led,
Eased down through forest trees,
I turned towards it with intention,
Of moving-on from this location.
~
I took long strides in that direction,
When something glinting caused distraction,
And there before me on the floor,
A key of gold to free Nevermore.
~
Said key of gold, ornate and old,
Was formed so perfectly,
A polished blade, toothed, well-made,
Its bow inlaid with ivory.
~
With key in hand and curiosity,
Pushing, pulling, impelling me,
I headed down the phantom track,
Decision made, no turning back.
~*~
~ Copse ‘n’ Corpse (Part 1) precedes this post. Part 3 to follow shortly ~
~*~
