This is my version of a bedtime story my little daughter told me.
(Yes~ the little princess tells me stories to put me to sleep)

An eerie, starry night,
Very hushed, very quiet.
A little girl lost in trees that moan,
Walking in the woods, all alone.

The air is cold, she feels the chill, The dry leaves - rustle beneath.
The night owls sing & crickets join,
A 'metallic' taste lingers in her mind.

A little scare, a little fright,
She spots a wooden hut in moon light,
With thatched roof of dried brown leaves.
Mud walls and one wooden door.

She pushes the door that opens with a creak,
Lies nothing inside but a small wooden bed.
Tired jiggly legs and heavy eye lids,
She lays on the bed and stares at the sight.

Empty walls except old paintings,
Of old tired faces, sad eyes and gentle smiles.
The room is warm, unlike the winds.
She stares at the paintings,
deep into those sad eyes,
and soon, she falls asleep.

The dawn's chorus that morning sings,
Little sun rays, peeking through thatched leaves.
She opens her eyes and stretches her arms.
With an un-tired body, she smiles and yawns.

The sun rays now hit her face!
She is in awe but 'fear' resides,
Little drops of sweat on her brow and back,
There are no paintings on the walls,
These were windows - open and wide.

Someone was staring at her all night.
Tired faces, sad eye and gentle smiles,
They kept a watch as she slept.
It was one scary and lonely night.