Today I sojourned in the green hills,
When I came upon a meadow,
Standing guard in the center of the glade,
An old sugar Maple,
Surrounded with summer wild flowers,
Silent and alone.

I heard a peal of laughter,
Then caught a glimpse,
Of a girl--woman,
Running nude,
Through the meadow,
Hands bound behind her.

I started to follow,
But she disappeared,
Behind the giant Maple.
I walked around the tree,
But she wasn’t there,
I knew she wouldn’t be.

I studied the moss,
Which grew
In the tree’s shade.
There was no sign
Of her ashes,
Where I had laid them,
Last year.