Hush and Heed

Hush, my child, or they will hear
Your petulant voice in the cold night air –
That shrill, hard pitch shreds their ears,
And those that get caught
Simply disappear.

Stay out of the woods!
That’s where they live, where they watch
And hunt for foolish kids
That show their parents’ words such scorn
And fade away
Like the fog at morn.

Steer clear of the waters,
Be they shallow or deep, they’ll pull you down
To their cold, dark depths
Where they like to sleep –
Where they steal your breath.

Hush and heed my warnings, my words,
Flee the woods and waters beyond.
Hush and head, my darling child,
If you wish to see tomorrow’s dawn.