en0

Sheep

by Artem Ocheret

I led my flock through dying forest
and by the drying river bed 
There stood a tree. 
It's canopy was thick with needles 
and perched above was sitting me.

Halt, fool! 
Approach this tree with caution
The needles kill though they're soft
Its plump red berries - bitter potion.
Its roots lay fast. They do not rot.
when I was you
I crossed the forest 
and my gray sheep
enjoyed its reckless green 
and then a few 
came to the modest
tree and reaped
and seeped 
its ancient sin.
And as the ewes chewed on the yew
It lured me high to look for you.

Why why old man? I said 
Have you gone mad? 
I'll get you stat.

And as I grabbed the wretched branch
and squeezed through sheep 
that had their lunch 
a sheep’s skull cracked beneath my feet 
and I was up. The forest died.