Apple Pine (2/2)

Told from the perspective of a wise, old mage to his young apprentice.

Here in the forest

A wizard is tried

As he carelessly created

The enchanted Apple-pines

“Well, what is the issue?”

You say, so unlearned

It’s something I wish you

For yourself could discern

But alas, you are young

I’ll explain it to you

The Apple-pine forest

Is a horror in truth

For here all the firs

Lined in unkempt rows

Grow not cones, but apples

Which in darkness do glow

“So what?” you laugh now

“Sounds a marvelous sight!”

But with these, dear child

Comes the demonic fright

For each apple is infested

With a worm that can shriek

And as one draws closer

They begin their shrill speak

From one to another

They scream out like banshees

They’ll drive you quite mad

As their song will never cease

Until you’re quite out of there

If you make it out at all

Be careful lest you trip

Be wary you don’t fall

For those that don’t return

It’s said that the worms

Devour that one’s very soul

And except through strange dreams

No one will remember

That they ever existed at all

So let the wizard cry

For his life beg and plead

He is guilty of crimes

Let the sentence proceed

For even the worst punishment

Can never exceed

What has become of those

Who fall prey to his deed

Now you get it, don’t you?

You understand quite well?

Foolishness breeds destruction

For there is power in each spell

So heed your words quite closely

Don’t speak with aimless wit

For there are dangers not foreseen

And fires that can’t be unlit

Author's Note

Once, a friend told me this story about the "Applepine" tree. It was a pine tree that grew beautiful, glowing apples that were infested with these horrifying worms that would scream during the night, should anyone happen to draw near. My friend told the story with such enthusiasm that I almost wanted to believe in the story if only for the enchanting way that he relayed it. And so, I wondered... How would such a forest come into being? I thought, perhaps some foolish mage would bring it into existence. And so, I began two poems (this and another) to sort of bring to life this fascinating tale as best as I could.