Hallowed Ground

photo by Allison Tardio

The woman is a double agent

Although she pretends to be a teacher

she really works

for the forest

She is protector of this hallowed ground

(but don't tell or she'll have to set her snakes on you)

She leads the children

and the grown ones on wooded hikes

tells them about the Cypress

the birds

the crayfish

but mostly she watches

Sometimes the woman catches the eye

of a kindred soul

a wild child

She gives a secret wink

The rest believe she's there

for them

(fools!)

She's there for the spirits of the forest

the ghostlike deer 

who appear and disappear

without a sound

the sinewy black snake

with  forked tongue sniffing the breeze

the orange legged spider

showy and quick

decorating its web with marks of Zorro

This is their home

and humans, the intruders

The woman sees to it that the guests behave

show the proper respect

and if they don't

someone may go home with nasty case of

poison ivy

or perhaps an accidental fall

into the creek

(careless children are prone to accidents)

and you never know

where a snake may slither.

photo by Allison Tardio

submitted for Poetry Jam, Hallows Eve