Little Red didst blithely skip
in forest deep and dark.
Forgetting all had been warned
laughing as if on a lark.
She swung her basket to and fro
not looking through her eyes,
for dangers hidden in the trees
not thinking about a disguise.
Upon a hunter meek and mild
Little Red didst soon arrive.
With clear blue eyes she smiled
At him, so sweet, so clear, so alive.
He spoke of peace and gentle things
and she didst fall in love.
He promised not to hurt her heart
and swore to God above
.
Red knew him not, but answered yes
despite what she’d been told.
And so struck out on her own
with step both confident and bold.
Ignoring signs of pending doom,
Red whistled as she skipped.
Right up to Grandma’s house
into the door she slipped.
In bed poor Grandma slept
with fever and with cold.
Red tiptoed up to see her eyes
and Grandma’s hand to hold.
“What big eyes,” Red declared
when Grandma didst awake.
“To see, my dear,” she replied
and took a bite of cake.
“What big teeth,” Red did say
when Grandma opened wide.
“To chew, my dear, these lovely
cakes,” she sneakily replied.
“What furry arms you have,”
said Red, “and I remember not
when didst thou grow such
lengthy hair could be tied in a knot.”
“It keeps me warm on winter’s eve,
and dry during soft spring rains.
I’d love to hold you in my arms,
to cradle you once again.”
“No, thanks,” said Red for she did see
some things were not all right.
For Grandma dear was way too dark
even in such poor light.
“I think I’ll go,” Red didst say
and hurried toward the door.
“You shall not go,” Grandma declared
and sprang feet on the floor.
She threw off her cap and gown,
revealing a wolf-like shape.
Red didst scream and run about
attempting to escape.
The wolf didst flash a mighty smile
and throw his arms out wide.
Intending to capture Little Red
without wasting even one stride.
Suddenly there didst appear
a man both tall and strong.
Red ran to him and told her tale
so he could right a wrong.
Listen now for you shall hear
the moral of this tale.
Go careful through yon forest deep
and whilst skipping through a vale.
Rescue might not come your way.
To perish could become your plight.
Unless you’re careful to observe
even on the darkest dark night.
While Little Red didst escape
and her story she soon didst tell.
You must listen and take care,
so for you things will go well.
You cannot walk and prance about,
with head adrift in the skies.
For on you might come, like to Red,
a murderous surprise.
Beware, my child, of strangers met
in forest, field, or glen.
For they might be a dangerous sort,
then we’ll not meet again.
