Under her feet the autumn leaves
Crunch brittle and lifeless
Their majesty of russet and gold
Trampled into the soggy clay

The trees now stripped and sorrowful
Reach their branches skyward
In resentful supplication desperate
To recover their lost glory

The drizzle a fine haze over the hills
Slowly seeps into the bones of her
Leaving a damp sheen on her hair
That catches the radiance of the moon

Soft waves of mist roll across the track
Pooling around her ankles
In an eerie dance smooth and subtle
Moving in rhythm with her footsteps

Shadows join the mournful swirl
Cast blackly along her path
Streaks of bleak darkness
Created suddenly by the moonlight

The wind ruffles through her hair
Whispering words of encouragement
Almost as if it would comfort her
Give some solace to her soul

The harvest moon hangs huge and ******
Against the distant horizon
Guardian of the traveller
On her solitary nighttime quest

She trudges along the trail
No thought of glancing behind her
Willingly following where it leads
Through the wood and up into the hills

On the hilltop she stands in the silence
Gazing upwards to the star filled heavens
Her heart is full of wonder
She dare not disturb the woodland spirits

And yet in that heart there is a wish
A wish that remains unspoken
But she prays to the moon and stars
To the forest nymphs that it be granted

She bows her head in gratitude
As the wind caresses her skin
Her heart is joyful in this timeless moment
Knowing that her message has been heard