The Eternal Thicket

There is a secret forest
on the outskirts of town,
where the desperate are called
so to never be found.

It is hidden from most
and graces no map,
it exists within a sort of
‘temporal gap’.

It is a gloomy old place
from Autumn through Spring,
where the insects are still
and the birds never sing.

When a person arrives
with intentions to end,
a voice from the forest
whispers to them.

It asks them to ‘stand very still
and wish very hard,
for the Gods in the leaves
will turn skin into bark.”

“A tree will be borne
from the soul left behind
until body and vine
are forever entwined”

It is a simple offer,
and many have picked it.
The newest recruits
to the Eternal Thicket.

There are rows upon rows
as far as can see,
an army of people
who, now, are a tree.

It is easy to tell
if you know where to look,
when this curious process
has been undertook.

If you feel quite so brave
as to climb up the trunk
you’ll see shapes in the bark
where their faces are sunk.

Arms become branches,
and fingers grow thin,
if you snap them in half
you’ll find bones are within.

I suspect you have doubts
about a story so strange,
but there is one little detail
you’ll never explain.

When the process begins,
and their bodies are taken,
It is a very quick thing
and they rarely are naked.

Whatever they wore,
when the forest took hold,
still adorns their new form,
and a story is told.

Some branches sport gold,
or some count the hours,
and most of the trunks
are still wearing trousers.

– Owen Morgan

—

If you are a publisher interested in the rights to publish this work, please use the contact details to get in touch!