(c)1996, Gayle P. Nastasi
A young man walked the winter wood
All round him snowy white
The shadows blue grew long and deep
As day gave way to night
He quick’d his pace as the daylight waned
And pulled his collar high
His breath did frost in the dark’ning air
As movement caught his eye
He spun, “Who’s there?” his voice barked out
No answer did forthcome
Once more he hastened through the dusk
Toward his distant home
The shadows danced just out of reach
He turned toward a sound
A lilting song, so light, so fair
Drifted o’er the frozen ground
“I know you’re there!” he called again
Once more the music came
“Who are you?” hard he peered around
“A child? What’s your name?”
No child would cause the hand of fear
That gripped the young man’s neck
He hurried on through length’ning shades
Along his homeward trek
And then a form appeared ahead
And with it once again
That bell-like song so sweet and clear
Of foe? Or was it friend?
“Who are you, child?” he stopped abrupt
“And why torment me so?
“Can you not see I hurry home
“Before a threatening snow?”
“The snow will come,” the lass replied
“No matter where you be,
“So why not stay, why rush away?
“Enjoy the snow with me.”
It was no child before him now
Tho’ no more than child’s size
But woman-form with wild gold hair
And mocking azure eyes
She stepped toward him, as on air
Her footfalls made no mark
Though soft fresh snow lay all around
White-blue in the deepening dark
He caught his breath as her hand reached out
To stroke half-frozen skin
Hot fire soared through ‘wakened veins
When her slim arms gathered him in
“Stay with me,” her words did tease
“I swear you will be warm.
“There is no wonder in these woods
“So wond’rous as a storm”
Her hand, like ice upon his neck
Pulled his mouth to hers
“You do not wish to go,” she sighed
(Enchantment laced her words)
Her kiss possessed him, and he moaned
“I do not wish to go”
She pulled him down on the icy bed
Of freshly fallen snow
Beneath the frozen snow so deep
Sleep the seeds of spring
And one young fool who stopped too long
When he heard the faerie sing
