Lantern In The Woods

Every year, for years, we made the journey

Out to that cabin, nestled in grandpa’s back woods

I can still hear his gravely voice reassuring, “don’t worry “

“Ol lantern here, he”ll make sure things are good”

We’d carry in the bare essentials

And then, hunted for hours to earn our keep

He’ d say, “what happens here is confidential “

And lantern was there to keep everything straight

See, lantern knew the woods, like he was born there

One of the creatures that roamed in the night

Long before grandpa’s great grand-daddy breathed that cold air

Lantern and his kin, seemed to gather the light

I will never forget the day that we lost him

The day that my grandpa found the other side

We were out in the darkest corner when it happened

As clear as a bell, when that old grizzly arrived

The skies became dark and the forest grew silent

Like we were the only ones left in the world

He rose from the brush, bigger than a giant

Raising his paw, like a freight train unfurled

Grandpa raised his hands in an effort to defend us

We hid by a rock and witnessed all hell arrive

The next thing I recall, was lantern, covered in cuts

Confirming the nightmare that grandpa didn’t survive

Some nights I awaken, reliving that moment

Shivering and wet, a small boy in my dreams

Learning the hard truths that there are things we don’t know, and

That nothing is ever the way that it seems

Somedays I return, make my way to that cabin

Dust off the sill and take a moment to breathe

Finding in the air a connection with lantern

Remembering since that day, he’d always be there for me