Hidden Dangers

She wandered slowly through the woods, Admiring bluebells, ferns and trees; The sound of birdsong in her ears, Accompanied by buzzing bees. She sat beside a little stream And watched the fishes swimming by, The water tasted fresh and cool - Such beauty made her want to cry. But pungent garlic plants around And insects crawling, biting now, The adders hissing in the grass, All made her feel on edge somehow. She wondered where the stream would lead And wasn’t sure which trail to take; The sun was fading, she was lost - She thought she even saw a snake. She heard the sound of snapping twigs And then a hulking shadow loomed, She turned around and stared in fear: Struck dumb, she knew that she was doomed… Jack Horne for Francine’s Nature Tale contest 8th October