A GIRL IN THE WOODS
BY ANONYMOUS
This poem is written in an extended version of the villanelle style. It is a simple ballad about a chance encounter between the narrator and a strange girl in the forest outside of a summer camp. The story is inspired by a short online animation regarding the very same girl, which I very much enjoyed.
I saw a maid, most beautiful, as woodland path I tread.
Her shining eyes looked into mine; her figure not yet clear.
A perfect moment, then I blinked—she stole my heart, I lost my head.
As I drew closer to the girl, I saw her lips of red.
She smiled at me a pretty smile, said words I could not hear.
I saw a maid, most beautiful, as woodland path I tread.
I walked to her, drew closer still, to hear the words she said,
She asked if I was all alone, then giggled full of cheer—
A perfect moment, then I blinked—she stole my heart, I lost my head.
As I approached my eyes played tricks; for there a’crest her head
Her pink tinted bow I had seen just before to me now looked like horns of a deer.
I saw a maid, most beautiful, as woodland path I tread.
I bid my racing heart to still and purge itself of dread
Her eyes full of mirth set my mind then at ease for her beauty was nothing to fear
A perfect moment, then I blinked—she stole my heart, I lost my head.
Away, further still, from the safety of camp by this beautiful girl I was led.
She laughed and I smiled, with her hand held in mine, and I didn’t see past her veneer
I saw a maid, most beautiful, as woodland path I tread.
If only far sooner I’d noticed the signs, from the monster I might have then fled
She stopped in the shadows of trees tow’ring over us, turned and then beckoned me near—
A perfect moment, then I blinked—she stole my heart, I lost my head.
I should not have come here, I realised quite suddenly, soon I would surely be dead
Her hands dripped with red and her eyes locked to mine, her face flashing a sharp toothéd sneer.
I once saw a beautiful maiden by night, as a path through the woods I did tread.
A perfect moment, then I blinked—she stole my heart, I lost my head.