Don't Go Into the Woods

A poem from the perspective of a self-appointed protector. Sometimes, the scariest monsters are right in front of us

Don’t go into the woods my love, 

for you are wanted here. 

The trees are many and the night is long 

and you would become lost, I fear. 

Here, you are warm and comforted 

against the darkness of the world. 

Here, I can look into your deep, brown eyes 

and smell your hair, dark and curled; 

that I might stroke your neck and feel your skin, 

watch the breath move in your chest. 

At the very idea, my heart surges madly 

and my thoughts, they do arrest. 

Don’t go into the woods, my love, 

for monsters lurk within. 

Both in places well-trod by Man 

and others, where none have been. 

These fiends and ghouls take many shapes 

and might catch you unawares. 

Their charity and softness drawing you in, 

though already trapped in their snares. 

Others stalk and watch from shadow, 

their predator gaze unbroken.

Their teeth wish to sink into your flesh, 

your veins, they crave to open. 

Don’t go into the woods, my love, 

as Death should surely find you. 

Creatures of sin that lust for your soul, 

with their darkness, they shall undo 

your goodness and trust with fear and pain, 

your vibrant life with hollow demise. 

They will lick the blood from your torn open throat 

as light drains from your angel eyes. 

They shall suck your spirit as if marrow from bone, 

and gorge themselves on your terror; 

aroused and feverish by the thrill of the hunt 

and revelling in your error. 

So don’t go into the woods, my love, 

for I want us here alone. 

I wish to watch you in your unchecked ways, 

my presence to you unknown. 

I shall stare wide eyed at your beauty 

and drink in your luminescence. 

I feel honored just to be near you, 

validated by your presence. 

Because of you, I have found purpose 

in this world of which we reside. 

I am your protector and shadow forever; 

none will ever push me aside. 

No one but us shall be in this place, 

for your life long, none but we two. 

I shall not permit anyone past this door. 

No love but mine shall be true. 

You are mine and mine alone, 

just as I am yours.

And though you cannot hear or see me, 

this love of ours endures. 

So bolt the door and draw the curtains. 

Keep out the darkly prying eyes 

which watch you, my love, from the trees. 

Your safety, their stillness belies. 

And as you lay you down to sleep, 

I’ll be close and keep you secure. 

And as I crawl out from under your bed 

your tranquil rest I will ensure. 

You belong to me, my beauty, my heart, 

and by none, shall I be crossed. 

So don’t go into the woods, my love, 

for without me, you are lost.

Reviews

[emmajoygreen]

A long poem with its own loving and longing put in multi-coloured and created words.. Very finely laid those words are too, showing an abundant love and need to protect forever. Re-reading, there could be a touch of the spiritual here too, Katherine.

[Chrissie Muldoon]

'Very finely laid words'.... what a lovely sentiment to read about my own writing! Thanks so much, Emma :)

[emmajoygreen]

I truly meant it. :)

[Arundass TP]

Great poem. Really woods are dark while alone. Really heart touching

[Chrissie Muldoon]

Thank you so much for reading and for leaving a review! I'm glad that you found it affecting :)

[Arundass TP]

Welcome friend 😊

[robert harris jr]

beautiful writting very style and sonnet ryhme and tempo

[Chrissie Muldoon]

Hi Robert. Thank you so much for reading and for leaving some kind words for me. I really do appreciate it :)

[Davidgeo]

Makes me wanna get high and watch the old animated version of the lord of the rings movies.

It's very well written all the way through. Something like this would take me years to write.

[Chrissie Muldoon]

Oh my Lord, Davidgeo.... the first comment took me so off guard, I spit out my tea and starting crying from laughing XD XD XD
I'm so happy that I incited such a strong emotion and impulse within you, and I take it as such a compliment that my writing made you think of such a classic like Rings.

As to the second thought however, it was very kind of you to say. I know exactly what you mean about the creative process sometimes feeling like a horribly prolonged labor. But I suppose it takes however long it takes... as long as we're proud of ourselves in the end :)

Stock yourself up on some snacks and have fun watching LotR, lol :D

[Davidgeo]

I'm not allowed to get high anymore but I did drink 6 beers while I rewatched about 90 minutes of the old lotr. The live action movies are far better but, there is something about the old 78 animated movie version... it's a perfect mix of nostalgia and art. In my opinion of course. I trade in bad opinions so what the f**k do i really know

[Chrissie Muldoon]

Meh, you like what you like, and let none be your judge :D but thank you again for the review. Gave me a big smile!

[Gee]

Could apply this to my "job" as father to an only daughter(23years old) where it seems every waking your is spent worrying, needlessly, about her safety.
Enjoyed this Chrissie, rhyming and cadence were spot on from start to finish

[Chrissie Muldoon]

Thank you so much, Gee. I'm very happy that you enjoyed my structure... it really can make or break writing, I find! haha!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting :)

[Gee]

My pleasure

[Vol]

Chrissie,
Everyone needs someone to write a poem like this for them... it would solve many of the world's problems, cause... "Me? Go to war? Are you CRAZY? Have you met my lover?"
Vol

[Chrissie Muldoon]

Vol, thanks so much for those kind words. Reading, 'Everyone needs someone to write a poem like this for them,' is honestly an immensely encouraging thing to read. Thank you so much for reading and for commenting :)

[Tom]

Yes indeed so as is perhaps the case here, the forewarnings of the sinister woods and to avoid at one's peril may actually be a less dangerous place than where one finds themselves now, cocooned, isolated within the close encounter of a would be psychotic ' monster ' ...

A terrifically, darkly atmospheric tale, rhymes and flows quite brilliantly and brimming with sinsister nuances and menace!!!

[Chrissie Muldoon]

Tom, you legend! Thank you so much for reading and for the kind review... 'brimming with sinister nuances and menace...' what a compliment! Thanks very much!

[Tom]

Welcome and wonderful to read such a noteworthy write by a fellow Northern Irish poet, look forward to reading/reviewing much more

[Relic]

Hey, Chrissie. The first thing that drew me to this was the title. Being I'm a horror fan I couldn't resist. Normally, I like rhyming poems that somewhat obey a certain syllable count. This poem however seems to go along nicely without it and had the count been strict, It may have suffered a little.

This gave off a real stalker - if I can't have you no one can - vibe to it for me. I get visions of some killer who is thinking to himself all the ways he wants her in his sight to control her. Maybe he stalks her. And maybe he's actually planning to take her into the woods. I like the way you repeat those lines.

The line - And as I crawl out from under your bed, was a killer line that did it for me. This guy's a psycho for sure.

Whether my interpretation is accurate, close, or way off, I liked this one.

Nice writing. :)

[Chrissie Muldoon]

Awww, Relic, THANK YOU! I'm so happy that you enjoyed it, especially since you're a horror fan. And really really.... thank you SO MUCH for mentioning the poem's rhythm. I agree that syllable/beat count can sometimes make or break rhyming poems, which I know mine is a bit off with this one. But I commited to the poem, not to poetic rules, and got something that I'm really proud of. So the fact that you picked up on the 'skewed' pattern, but think that it still works.... that makes me so happy :) thanks so much for reading!!

[Chris]

Seems you're already in the "woods" - now - doesn't it?

Trees do not make the "woods", life does.

[Chrissie Muldoon]

What a line---- 'Trees do not make the woods, life does...' I couldn't have said it better myself, Chris.
Thank you so much for reading and leaving me such great words to consider myself :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I like the transition in this from her needing him to him needing her.
I also just recently read a novel called The Holler by Thomas Bell.
The Holler is much like these woods in the poem and everyone is told that they will take you if you go there, you won't come back.
Once we really fall in love with someone, there is no going back. We can't really fall out of love even if we think we have. It is like going into the woods...even as we emerge from them, the shadows and the rustling follow us.
Quite good stuff here, Chrissie.

[Chrissie Muldoon]

I'm so grateful for your review here, Jacob. You've got me wanting to read The Holler now!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Let me know if you do and if so, what you think.
Everyone I know who has read it has read it in one sitting.

[Ayvid N]

"And as I crawl out from under your bed
your tranquil rest I will ensure."

A very intriguing yet exciting write. The protector could be certainly a predator here. Especially, since they feverishly elaborate upon how the loved could be killed and devoured. It seems like they long to do it themselves. Beware of those who profess to love you! Some of them could have fangs dripping blood and a dagger held behind.

Well done!

[Chrissie Muldoon]

Awww, Divya, thank you! I'm so happy you managed to pick up on what I was trying to convey: that sometimes, the relationships that should be nourishing to us, are actually really dangerous, and often in ways we can't see or initially pick up on. Again, thanks for being a champion of my writing :D