King's Daughter's Kitchen

This is written in response to Kevin’s No Theme Thursday 10.24.24.

Creep dumped me here 

Lost in the woods

Miles from home

Canteen and whistle

’round my neck

Flint in my pocket

Knife on my belt

Follow the river

Step on, Step on

Getting dark

Sap in my hair

Bugs cloud my eyes

I slip

Feet wet, boots squish

Goosebumps, getting colder

Crickets sound, bullfrogs call

Something bigger splashes in the dark

Step on, Step on

Trek on in moonlight

Thankful for clear sky

Until I can’t feel my fingers

To get another drink

Hands in pockets ache

Stomach growls, owls screech

I jump, look around

Nothingness

Step on, Step on

Follow the river

Time moves forward

Early morning

Northeastern lights

Factory steams,

Tower blinks red

Rejoicing now

Alive, exhausted, almost safe

Step on, Step on