The House in the Forest Glen

Having perhaps a better view
than many a man could see,
I spied an empty hut below--
something that quite surprised me.

I never once did look away
the whole time I looked down,
except to glace across the hills
upon the glistening town.

The lonely hut that sat alone
nestled in the glen
so far away, it did appear
to be quite vacant, then.

And yet as day drew into night
and twilight did concede,
I noticed quite a curious thing--
a curious thing indeed!

And though of such things I knew not
(I never had been told)
I did decide then to decend;
inside to venture bold.

Then peering once into the house,
I did at length begin
to view the trappings and old things--
the treasures held within.

I saw a chest that had been filled
with dolls and children's toys,
and other odds and ends of sorts
of young girls and young boys.

And as I pondered on such things
I heard a voice, distinct:
"Who ventures into my abode,
into my old precinct?"

In fear, I fled from that dread place
and hid amongst the trees
and kept in silence and quite still
in hope that no one sees.

"That house must hold great secrets!"
I in my mind exclaimed.
And so I did convince myself
to all my fears contain.

And with this newfound courage I
did explore once again
the lonely house beyond the town
inside the forest glen.

I found that that house now did have
a little child now,
and wondered how long she'd been there
as sweat brewed on my brow.

"My child, how long have you been
behind me as I searched?"
"For many a year," the child replied.
"Upon the desk I've perched."

"For many a year?" I asked her then,
"but how can this be so?"
You cannot be but of five years
and you have scarcely grown!"

"For many a year, for many a year."
Was all that she would say.
And realizing what she meant,
I wished to run away.

But, instead, I asked the girl
"Would you like to go home?"
"Why, yes!" she answered, smiling.
"For too long have I roamed!"

"Come here, my girl." I did reply
as her fate I espoused.
I took her hand, and we walked out
of that old, lonely house.

She turned to me and said, "Thank you,
I finally am free."
She took her small hands out of mine,
then faded, memory.

And sometimes still I do return
to that old house again
beyond the town and over the hills
in the forest glen.