The Children Beyond Earendel

PART ONE

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No wind stirred in the Gate Acre Wood

No bird entered where the black trees stood.

The old folk warned ‘nothing was good

So, keep far away from the Gate Acre Wood.’

Tales were told about a wind and a flood

Bringing bugs and slugs and dark foul mud

So, not much survived and the trees didn’t bud

Which made people afraid of the Gate Acre Wood

Every day everyone kept away from the Wood

Where trees would trap you if only they could

Nobody knew what might grow in the Wood

Where voices whisper ‘we’d escape if we could.’

A notice declared no children were allowed

No matter how small or big was the crowd

To pick up stones or take away seeds

That stuck to the roots reaching out from the trees.

But two brothers called Zac and Reubs were bold

Often refusing to do what they were told

It didn’t make sense why a group of old trees.

Ate ladybirds, flies, and large bumblebees.

‘Let’s find out why the Wood is a mystery’

Zac thought the answer might lie in its history

‘There’s nothing inside so it can’t be that risky

What if the Wood is a magical fantasy?’

So, passing tree by tree they went into the Wood

Making sure it was safe wherever they stood

But as daylight faded and shadows moved around

The trees uprooted and slid over the ground

A sudden bright light made them cover their eyes

Until they saw two figures about half their size

Standing quite still at the far end of the Wood

Repeating ‘this isn’t our neighbourhood.

We’re trapped and desperate to get out of this Wood

Everyone’s scared but we’re misunderstood

We must signal our friends with fire made of wood

Even if it burns down the Gate Acre Wood.’

The two strange figures changed shape as they glowed

No sign of eyes, ears, a mouth, or a nose

While sharp points of light stabbed the bark on the trees

Carving a ‘Z’ and an ‘R’ and then the word ‘PLEASE’

The night brushed away cloud and in came the stars

Peering at what they could see from afar

Listening to the footsteps in the Gate Acre Wood

Where trees turned around and nothing was good.