darling, do you remember? the night i found you there six feet under woodland moss you were too bloodied to care

i pulled you from the roots the trees held you as their own you folded into my calloused hands i said “my love, we’re going home”

carrying you from the forest a trail of blood swam on our tail the pellets beat down on your skin first signs of a reckoning hail

the years came and went but you never said a word still, i gained hope every time you stirred

one day a spirit called came knocking on our door she took one look at you and said “oh, it’s a shame to be so poor”

for i couldn’t afford to mend you with any spell from a merchant’s tent so i sat and listened to your breathing without a penny spent

but the spirit she was kind offered to heal you for free placed a kiss upon your forehead and willed you to come to me

your eyes fluttered open two pale butterflies mine closed from the weight of the heaviest of cries

you placed your hand on my cheek said “thank you, my dear” i thought we’d be happy now but your future’s “oh so clear”

for you had to return to the bog the same one from which i’d saved you because is it really saving when you don’t have all the clues?

because your home was the forest i mistakenly thought it was me but there’s not love lost, darling i lowered you under your tree

one last look and you were gone but i didn’t waste those years because when i turn around i see the spirit there to catch my tears.