But Instead Has Gone Into Woods
Lyn Lifshin

But Instead Has Gone Into Woods

A girl goes into the woods
and for what reason
disappears behind branches
and is never heard from again.
We don’t really know why,
she could have gone shopping
or had lunch with her mother
but instead has gone into
woods, alone, without the lover,
and not for leaves or flowers.
It was a clear bright day
very much like today.
It was today. Now you might
imagine I’m that girl,
it seems there are reasons. But
first consider: I don’t live
very near those trees and my
head is already wild with branches.

Lyn Lifshin

is the author of many books, most recently Knife Edge & Absinthe: the Tango Poems; For the Roses: Poems Inspired by Joni Mitchell; All The Poets Who Have Touched Me; A Girl Goes Into The WoodsMalala; Tangled as the Alphabet: The Turkey Poems; Secretariat: The Red Freak, The Miracle; and Moving Through Stained Glass: The Maple Poems. Her web site is LynLifshin.com.