And we begin in the dark of night

in a cold and fearsome wood.

Lost in thought and wandering alone

never leads to good.

Of butterflies and horny toads

and things we should not say,

our heroine was dreaming

just when she lost her way.

And 'twixt her musings dark and blue

she saw fire in the sky

and wish fulfilling stars so bright,

they danced before her eyes.

“Help me please...” she pleaded,

“...for I am lost and I'm alone.

Please shine the path and light the way.

I'm so very far from home.”

The stars stared down with cold disdain

from high where they were pasted.

“We will not help you foolish child

and a whole nights shining wasted!

“You've lost your way you silly knave,

this path wasn't yours to travel.

Our shine's reserved for those bold and brave,

not just any worthless rabble!”

They glared at her and turned away,

once more they swathed in clouds

and bitter tears found easy prey

on a countenance sweet and proud.

No help at all those angry orbs,

just decorations really.

“What right have they to look down on me

and judge me so severely!”

Spine held straight and upper lip stiffened

with her jaw set firm for good measure,

“Find your own way you foolish child.

Well it would be my pleasure!”

And through the broken underbrush

she scurried and she squirreled.

“Not my path indeed,” she muttered,

In fact, its my whole world.”

As she stumbled and she staggered,

still all the while she ranted

on all the cautionary tales

and the fears that had been implanted.

“In fact its not the path which I have lost

but the path which has abandoned me...

Not brave enough to face the dark

and the world it could not see!”

Just then a sliver from the sky

started her from her fuming,

a quarter moon was smiling down

as though on something amusing.

There to her amazement and chagrin

was the object of her wrath.

Sheepishly peeking from beneath the leaves,

that cowardly and traitorous path.

I'll not abandon you again'

its pebbles seemed to say

I was frightened of the dark

when last we parted ways.

Follow me and be my friend

let us begin anew

There are so many places for us to see

and I will be led by you.

Up head just in view,

she peered a fork in the road,

one way pointed to the world

and one way pointed home.

With fear and yearning battling

in that dark and howling night,

our heroine took a deep deep breath

and decided to turn right.