Boy In The Old Apple Tree

Boy In The Old Apple Tree
© Surazeus
2018 09 05

The boy slips inside the old apple tree
to hide from the man on the laughing horse.
The raven flaps black wings and caws in rage
at the serpent that slithers toward its nest.

The girl with long hair flowing in the wind
runs among the trees to escape the shadow.
The man on the horse snatches her long hair
and drags her screaming to the river shore.

The man binds the hands of the girl with rope
to the old apple tree, then lies asleep.
The girl weeps with despair in dim twilight
as the sun gleams red behind distant hills.

The boy glides from the tree in sharp moonlight
as the girl stares at him with silver eyes.
Wielding the dagger with sharp gleaming blade,
the boy slits the throat of the surprised man.

Gurgling shocked, the man clutches at his throat,
and stumbles to his knees in blinding rage.
Cutting the rope that binds hands of the girl,
the boy stabs out the wide eyes of the man.

Huddling terrified by old apple tree,
the girl watches the boy feed the horse apples.
Crouching beside her in the sharp moonlight,
the boy offers the girl slices of apples.

Munching apple, he gazes in her eyes.
"My father kidnaps girls walking to market.
He kills them after they bear several children.
I decided to stop him killing girls."

Leaning forward, the girl kisses his mouth,
then she runs away into the dark night.
Lying in branches of the old apple tree,
the boy sleeps with the raven on his chest.