Wand'ring deep into the wild
a father comes to hunt his child
a noble daughter rose from sleep
of death to gloom of forest creep
beneath the cold and patient moon
forever fleeing light of noon
by frozen stream his daughter waits
a statue cold devoid of traits
that might have granted fleeting hope
her frame familiar, terror gropes
and gnaws his soul, his mind to sear
without, within, the cold of fear
her nightdress torn in muddy swatches
flies: her halo, darkness watches
from the trees the cold and damp
seeps to bone and snuffs his lamp
her face aglow, cheekbones hollow
hands outstretched to beckon: follow
her that once he held so dear
in silence somehow drawing near
at last the eyes! in darkness swimming
atramentous tears now brimming
daughter fair- face framed in writhing
hair alive to evil tithing
blood for blood her plan is clear
salvation dies as grows his fear
of one he would have died to save
now dead to him and late to grave
a foolish father kneeling 'fore
a candle snuffed to light no more
the darkness in his very soul
a daughter's love, once made him whole-
a flash of claw and teeth to rend
his final moment gasping, spends
his blood to lunge, his sword ascends
to pierce her heart or remnant of
that beat once 'neath his ear, his dove
falling then into his arms
all darkness flees revealing charms
thought lost to death, the father fading
short of breath his own heart failing
perfect, she lay once again
flawless, pure, redeemed, amends
are paid with blood, her soul unchained
the ground 't was painted crimson, stained
with love, a canvas there to tell
the place he held her, where they fell
a kiss to forehead, cheek to cheek
vision failing, trembling, weak
the father dies beside the stream
daughter cradled tight, they dream
of sunlight streaming far beyond
the reach of death and life long gone.
