A Keen Slender Man

Many a weary year ago,
When my hair was rich and black,
Before I'd broken both my knees,
And snapped my fragile back,

I strolled into a forest,
As cocky as could be
No use in being modest,
The world belonged to me,

But as I walked down dirty path,
I decided then to linger,
For I had felt a wicked heart,
Seen a tall and slender figure,

No man was he, no natural thing
His skull was smooth and white
No mouth or eyes above his chin,
He filled my soul with fright,

His arms grew long like whips and vines,
He wore a suit of black,
I'll remember him for all my time,
There'll be no going back…

Who was this demon of the wood,
I didn't care to know,
I backed away from where I stood,
Lest his evil show

But as I walked, so too did he
He matched me pace for pace
And then I turned to bolt and flee,
And thus began our race,

Sweat rolled quickly down my brow,
The creature's pace was quick,
I knew that if he caught me now,
He'd snap me like a stick

But in the dark, a light appeared,
A brightness in the trees,
It offered refuge from my fear,
The answer for my need,

I felt his breath upon my neck,
His touch upon my skin,
Was I doomed? I dare not check,
My courage was too thin,

Then the light appeared above,
It took its glowing form,
With beauty fairer than a dove,
And golden hair adorned

She smiled with glee and fluttered down,
On wings of blue and green,
Adorning her, a leafy gown
The best I'd ever seen,

'My name's Matrika' she said to me,
'And he's a man called "Slender"'
'His voice is that of wicked baby,'
'And he preys on child and beggar'

At him she glared and said 'BE GONE!'
'You have no power here'
'Slender legs shall bear you from,
My garden and my dear'

As the creature backed away,
I felt my fear regress,
Around the girl I threw my arms
And held her to my chest

It has been so many years
Since I spoke to that young fairy
With her I conquered all my fears,
And all I once thought scary…

And though my end will soon arrive,
I won't regret a thing,
For I've seen that fairy in the sky,
She makes me want to sing…

So ends my song of slender men,
My tale of creatures tall and lean,
And I am blessed for having known,
That girl: Matrika Keen