Deliverance

The hem of her dress hung heavy and wet
As she ran through the fast-falling snow
Like manna it rained down on her black woolen gown
But her pace never slackened nor slowed
There was no moonlight
But the trees showed sharp in that sea of white
And she knew where she had to go

She carried no purse nor satchel with her
No jewels, no silver or gold
When she looked back the drifting snow had erased her tracks
No sign of her passing did show
High up in the trees she heard the beating of a raven’s wings
And she knew where she had to go

At the edge of the wood a figure waiting, watching stood
She spied it and froze still as stone
Her breath came in clouds from her half-opened mouth
Her eyes like two diamonds they shone
Her heart swiftly beat and filled with blood her chilly cheek
And she knew where she had to go
In the silence of that field she felt her flesh and spirit yield
She knew where she had to go