In Savernake Forest

based on a true event

It was a beautiful, hot August day

She'd taken the children out to play

In Savernake Forest

 

Her little blondie-girl, her blue-eyed boy

A picnic vacation

An idyllic postcard picture with her bundles of joy

 

She laid-out a blanket beneath the trees

Her little ones played hopskotch and patted their knees

In Savernake Forest

 

"Be careful, my babies! And don't stray too far!"

"Alright, mummy!" they said

And she brought some more things from the car

 

 

That day a young man had a scream in his mind

Loaded-up with guns, and targets to find

In Savernake Forest

 

He stopped-off as usual to fill-up his tank

A smothered, ticking brain

Clicking back a trigger for a wound-up crank

 

The cashier behind the glass had a creeping sensation

The odd young man passed daily, towards his destination

In Savernake Forest

 

His empty eyes this time, though, were staring down a barrel

A bullet struck her leg

He clicked, then cursed, and left her bleeding, crawling for a towel

 

He sped-off, that was nothing, of the points he had to prove

He'd other weapons, other guns, for anything that moved

In Savernake Forest

 

 

The sun was gleaming, birds were singing, luncheon time was here

She called her children close

In perfect peace and isolation; a pretty world to fear

 

Protector and protected sat round upon the grass

An oft-dreamed image of love and hope, evermore to last

In Savernake Forest

 

But shadows come, and precious time is fragile in this life

A moment to be lost

Forever, future tainted, and widowed of its wife

 

The cold young man in combat gear was watching from the bushes

He remembered times when life was dear, before the pulls and pushes

In Savernake Forest

 

Shocked, she saw the stranger, yet recognised his face

Her instinct locked her back

To gather up her little ones and save them from this place

 

The man approached with gun in hand, a groundsheet on his arm

"They're only small," she said, "please don't cause them any harm"

In Savernake Forest

 

Silently, he followed; she put the children in the car

"Stay here, it's just a game"

She knew too well that if they'd run they'd not get very far

 

He grabbed her arm -she knew her fate- he led her to a clearing

No witnesses, no passers-by, no screams to catch the hearing

In Savernake Forest

 

Saving the innocents from the devil was but a moment's death

She'd sacrifice herself

To lay with a deadly sinner for a few more moments' breath

 

Kaleidoscopic voices span round the young man's head

He laid the sheet, then laid her down, and shot her point-blank, dead

In Savernake Forest

 

The children heard an echoed Bang! and sparrows fled the wood

"It's poachers, mummy said

Or the wolf in the book that mummy read: Little Red Riding Hood"

 

But he shot her again, and again, and again, then left the cordite smell

Left the bloodied, splattered scene to memories of hell

In Savernake Forest

 

 

On that hot afternoon, alone in a field, two children were heard talking

Some old lady found them

When asked "Where's mummy?" they replied: "A man just took her walking"

 

There were 15 more killings that day, in the sun

The young man, with a mother, had only begun

In Savernake Forest

 

 

 

Reviews

[zombiikillah666]

whoa! deadly....& certainly creative. lol.
i really like this devonssssss !!!!!!!
Awesome write...again!!!
you are the master of poetry. xD

[Ruth]

This is really interesting! Starts off wonderfully calm and leads to a spiral of devestation! Dark and chilling!
A really great entry love!
Really makes you think about the world!
Excellent poem!
xx

[Truly Ross-Wisehart]

This began as a delightful scene, although by the title I knew that would change. Every line moving forward caused my breathing to be more shallow. I could feel my heart race as I continued on through. I really had to fight myself NOT to jump forward to find out what became of the children. (I am sure this does not surprise you) I did not jump forward. I was relieved they were safe, if not (ultimately) alright.

Saving the innocents from the devil was but a moment's death
She'd sacrifice herself
To lay with a deadly sinner for a few more moments' breath

Chilling and extremely real. I know because I have children and they are my heart. This is another shining example of your brilliant eye for detail in imagery and story telling. Wonderful.

~True

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

Have to say.. powerful and moving..
Empty eyes, like an empty soul..
I like the use of "In Savernake Forest"
it makes the forest seem so serene and lovely... safe..in the beginning ..
Then it gives the forest a sinister evil feel .. like the man when he goes to this forest.
The mother doing what all mothers would , anything to save their children..
This happens in our cruel world too many times..
This is very strong I feel like crying...

Is it based on a true account?

Chloe
xo

[mope]

REALLY powerful piece! But I am too shocked by the event to take much in at the moment. I feel compelled to comment even though I'm not able to.