S. D.

Is there something
alurk in the woods
‘tis an ancient fear in me
I turn and turn, and it moves
Stirring terror in my genes

Is it a fear of the strange
Or is it that
My DNA remembers
What there was to fear
In an ancient day
When my ancestors held their home here
And something once familiar
Drove them to leave
And bunch up
In buzzing centres
Did they themselves dread too
And seek safety in the numbers
From some odd forest army
Of weird creatures
– Wild beings hostile
Now a guest I ask to recall
What fearful thing came out
Of the bush
When my forebears
Would feel these chills

While I wonder there
From the calm unquiet
Recollection calls
Man, it would be me

2018

S. D.