A picnic, a BBQ, a county fair,

surrounded by friends and neighbors always there.

Raisin’ a barn, help in hands we meet,

a glass of fresh lemonade to beat the summer heat.

Children running, playing in the sun,

Laughing happily till the work is done.

Food on the table, supper bell rings,

A prayer said for new beginnings.

He sat beside me I was twelve he fourteen,

My heart flipped. Best looking guy I had ever seen.

Well, there had not been a lot for our town was small,

A one room school house well it beat nothing at all.

He was new here, just come to town, his house and barn,

He did not give me the time of day though I turned on the charm.

But I knew where he lived, and I knew he would be in school,

All I needed to do was bide my time and act cool.

He never showed. School was necessary, but he did not come.

We were told he ran away my brain went numb.

Why did it bother me so much of a boy I just met?

I sighed wearily my heart filled with regret.

I wished I had known him, wished he had not gone,

Walking home from school I thought of him all alone.

I shivered as I feared for so many ills could befall,

Did he even consider these things at all?

Unknown reasons, unknown clues, through the woods I walked,

A hand covering my mouth, preventing me from a scream or talk.

Such fear I felt, such anger, I fought. I really did try,

But could not escape, and I wanted to cry.

He dragged me, kicking and screaming, to my head I felt the blow,

I remember nothing else till I woke in a cabin fire burning low.

It was not cold, why a fire? Where was I? Why was I here?

My heart a hasty beat, my soul filled with fear.

I had not looked around, only stared at the fire in the fireplace,

He spoke, I turned and saw his beaten, battered face.

He was tied, and I realized I was too, what was going on?

Oh self -pity hit me. I wanted to go home.

“Do not cry little one, somehow we will get away,

They will look for you, but they will leave me where I lay.

I did not run, he took me as he did you, but no one cares for me,

But you my little one they will come set you free.”

“What is happening? Who is doing this evil deed?”

“My so-called step-dad. Power is his need.

I am in his way, I protect my mama and stirs his anger,

I must escape for now she is in danger.”

This chair was hard on my back, this position too long,

I wanted to cry, just give up, but that would be wrong.

He could not escape on his own, I must try to release these ropes,

I prayed to God for help and renewed my hope.

I did as he and tried untying the ropes with which we were bound,

That not working I tried jumping in my chair turning it around.

He could touch my ropes, I could touch his, our hands finally untied,

So quickly we went for the legs, for we must find a place to hide.

I wanted to run, leave this place, but he wanted to remain,

Capture the villain cause him so much pain.

He bade me leave danger awaited, I must be free,

My heart soared as he thought of the danger to me.

But I could not leave, we could hear noises outside,

“Quickly, we must find a place to hide.”

There was only one more room, a kitchen with pots and pans,

He caught the boy, and I attacked frying pan in hand.

Upside the head, evil eyes at me he howled in rage,

The boy on the floor and I was trapped as a lion in a cage.

No, no. It could not end like this, for I wished to know the boy,

The villain looked at me as a cat looks at a brand new toy.

A clatter outside, the villain turned with pan I struck again,

My pa, and a few neighbors come rushing in.

Well we were rescued, never figured how they knew,

But the boy and I really became neighbors and together we grew.

His mama never remarried he finally made it to school,

We walked together and were aware of new rules.

Never walk alone, always in pairs, stay from the woods,

Eyes rolled, but in the end, it turned out to be all good.

We pledged our love by the lake under an oak tree,

The wedding was so beautiful we all agreed.

Fifty years together now and many a fuss and fight,

But in the end, everything turns itself upright.

© Cynthia Clark