Left to rust and rot,
The crimson red begins to fade
Sink, deep into the ground
Let the forest drink
Grow strong and wild
Rage against the dark

Stained glass wings,
Hear the whippoorwill sing
How sharp the teeth?
Who screamed the scream?
Left in the woods somewhere
In the deep, dark woods

How quick does the red tide grow
Whittle the leaves, sever the branches
Light the fires at night
Can you hear the birds singing?
In the blood red wood

Darkness
The deep green of an old growth forest
Of climbing vines, reaching branches
Creatures lurking in the bushes
Unseen eyes prying
The soft tread of mysterious feet

This forest is ancient dark, and deep
Ageless, unknowable
You are a trespasser here
Young, small
Like this forest once was

The shift of something behind the leaves,
The dance of a fairy's wings
Dappled sunshine in a patch of woods
Dust motes float as creatures move
Eyes ever watchful

Where does the red fern grow?
Where hearts bleed into the deep, deep earth?
An old dog lying on a new gravestone
Red forest, new growth
Nature's sunscreen

Something dies - so another begins
Layers of life upon death
Decay is the way of all things
Of all things
Wildfires come, burning bright
Burning red in the dead of night
Seedpods open in the blaze

Something dies and the forest feasts
Something becomes a part of something so much bigger
A forest is built on layers of decay
Old growth and new
Life and death, hand in hand
Where does the red fern grow? Where does the red fern grow?