A traveler new in town,
Was walking down the street.
His eyes fell on a girl that passed;
One that he felt eyes should never meet.

He stopped and stared after her.
Odd he thought this young.
A man that sold flowers on the street
Noticed the traveler holding his tongue.

He nudged the man gently,
His voice low, he said,
“Traveler, I would not follow.
You would be better off dead.”

The traveler asked,
“Who is this soul
That walks gracefully there?
For I would like to know.”

The merchant stared at the man
With half a mind to walk away.
But then he thought,
Why not? For it's been a dreary day.

“First, do not be fooled by her image.
Her name is Lady M.
It is said those who seek after her
Are never seen again.

“They say she has no soul.
They say she’s long been dead.
Those of us who know her at all
Dare not walk where she’s led.

“Her eyes are black and empty,
But stare into your being.
She takes your worst and horrible fears
And turns them into everything you’re seeing.

“She has no family to be found
She belongs to no one at all.
No one would dare touch her.
No one would catch her if she were to fall.”

The man looked at the merchant
In unbelief and surprise.
And said, “My dear man,
What you say must all be lies!

“How can you expect to know her
If you talk about her in such a way?
Here, I will prove you wrong.
With her I will spend the day.”

The merchant pitied the spell-bound man,
Gave him a lily and said,
“Then go now with this flower
That I sell for the dead.”

The man, not noticing
The merchant's warning words,
Took the flower in his hand
And turned to follow her...
                                                ...
      ­                                              ...
               ­                   He followed that girl into the woods,
                                           The one they call Lady M.
                                    He followed her to know the truth,
                                          And was never seen again.