Midnight, moonlight in the woods does shine, Moist soil underneath my shivering feet, Tree trunks surround me wrapped by dry vine, Shadows of animals that hunger for meat. A bone-chilling breeze makes my knees twist As the wind carries the sounds of night And on that wind comes a strange gray mist That challenges my power of sight Alone in that dread forest I walk as if blind Uncertain what danger might lurk here With naught but my fright troubling my mind I stumble and wallow in my own fear. When all of a sudden the mist mildly clears And shows me what might be a path At once with that sign I abandon my fears And set upon walking with wrath For I am a man, and none may me scare I am of the nature ruling species With but a slight whim any threat I impair In the food chain I’m top and not feces. With self-reassurance I started to walk forth Deeper into the woods of black Not knowing, not caring which way is the north In vanity and pride I didn’t lack. The winds did blow and the animals did howl In a chorus of dark, rich harmony The air to me whispered of deeds wild and fowl And prayed for my vain sympathy. The mist seemed to settle round an ancient oak On which a gray owl was perched And in a magical trance to me he had spoke While in the roots a wolf had lurched. “Nature is much like this great and aged tree It was here long before you came It hides great wisdom, which might set you free But also danger, dare you speak its name Just like you in this forest, men stumble alone Ignorant, in vain they are seeking control Whereas nature with wrath can make them be gone Yet still more will come not caring at all I offer you wisdom if wisely you can choose Bow down before me and be repent But try to conquer me, and all you will lose” And I would not listen to what he meant I refuse to bow down in meaningless humility Before something lesser than myself For I am a man of such great and regal nobility Empowered by great regal wealth. And with these proud thoughts I thought, at once The wolfs eyes did lit in a wild glare And strait at my broad chest the creature did pounce Like a hunters spear ripping the air. Next, I found myself lying awake in my own bed Covered with beads of cold sweat While that horrid dream from my mind had fled My sheets where still soaking wet. Outside my bedroom window clouds gathered up high On this bleak winter morning they came In ominous quantities they darkened the great sky Shaped as a cold borderless flame Forgetting the vision and forgetting my dream I saddled my old trusted horse I called on my greyhound, the one I named Brim And packed my old rifle off course With pride in my heart and skill in my hands I went out fully ready on a hunt Thus on my horse I rode out to my vast lands To track a gazelle despite the cold front After but a short hour Brim picked up her scent And I naturally followed my hound And right there I saw her and onwards I went After the graceful animal who lazed on the ground I sat on my horse and I steadied my aim then I shot In but a matter of moments she did die But on that same instant a mighty lightning bolt With rolling thunder pierced the sky The horse fearfully galloped, in vain I pulled the reins Alas I could not hold on and I fell As my horse ran away but his memory remains I lay down in such pain as in hell My blood mixed with rain and with blood of gazelle I felt strength leaving my body My ears started ringing as if a mystical bell Toll for my last hour, so bloody I looked up at the sky and I saw a gray owl pass Through the air, and then gone Abandoned by Brim, my bones broke as glass My life no longer were my own.