BY THE CHESTNUT TREE

In the land of living dead,

having trouble getting out of bed.

One spark strolled into the emptiness.

Life beckoned, and I said yes.

Should I ask for your forgiveness?

All alone, he's the only one who claimed me.

I'm a woman. Blame my weakness.

Through the night, my guiding star sustained me,

overcame me, by the chestnut tree.

Crossroads, heather, regions nether.

Gladly I stayed to him tethered.

His lies varied. Trickster, he carried

a chain and ball, and he was fallen.

Lest you think I acted blindly

while I lay, now blood vows bind me.

Wore a white dress. He renamed me.

Through the night, his shining light un-shamed me,

overcame me, by the chesnut tree.

Soon the gossip was beginning:

I was "crazy," I was "sinning."

Fraud and slander, poison oleander,

futile barbs of bitter women.

They were so cold. Killed my family.

Then he came, and in coming trained and planed me

over thresholds, through new country.

Through the night, his starry might untamed me,

overcame me, by the chestnut tree.