Tuesday, October 31, 2017

A Walk in the North Woods

One night I thought I'd disappear 
and walk amongst the elk and deer.
I had a load of stress to clear 
as autumn's chill was ever near

I thought about a trail I'd seen
where maples mixed with evergreen, 
from Vanderbilt to Wolverine 
My watch said it was ten fifteen. 

The Army taught a few things right, 
like how to cuss and how to fight, 
and you don't really need a light 
when walking through woods at night. 

I made it to the trail at last, 
extremely high and low on gas,
so caution to the wind I cast. 
I checked my watch as midnight passed. 

I wandered down the trail a ways
enveloped in a creepy haze,
when shafts of light in colored rays
set the path around ablaze.

I'm not a man for tales and lies.
I swear that there before my eyes 
an object spinning in the sky
looked like a tin for cherry pies.

Now every Michigander knows 
they planted pines in even rows,
and even in my panic throes 
I knew exactly where to go.  

I ran between the rows of pine, 
but stopped and turned to look behind, 
and some infernal root or vine
around my ankle did entwine. 

I almost had a heart attack 
I tripped and fell upon my back, 
and landed like a tater sack. 
A flashlight tumbled from my pack

Not much out there frightens me, 
but this one almost made me pee.
When I was finally safe and free 
my watch said it was five till three.

I sat there in bewilderment 
and wondered where three hours went. 
I thought of how that time was spent 
until my mind was warped and bent.

Now people think that I'm a creep.
I live alone and moan and weep,
'cause every time I try to sleep 
                                       I hear a little beep...beep...beep...beep...beep...beep...beep.