#22 Into the Woods

They sowed seeds of fear
and power
and violence
amongst the ferns
and overhanging branches.
The woods were the screen
to hide those things
in our small suburban town.
Meandering paths
and dappled sunlight
and between that,
arms and legs and faces
and taking.
Yes, the taking,
what they thought
they were entitled to.
Screams that were
never heard or
maybe never passed lips
because the birds
screamed louder.
In those idyllic woods,
scattered across town,
boys were bullied and beaten,
girls were molested,
rapes and murder happened.
On leaves scattering the ground,
pieces of people
lay scattered across the paths.