One day hiking in the forest,

I went a little snowblind.

I lumbered with my eyes closed in pain

And with my hands out in front of me

To keep from banging into trees 

And their branches hanging low.

And just as I stumbled down into the snow,

I felt a hand on my shoulder.

A person, I could not tell who,

Helped me stand, and offered me some porridge.

Holding my hand, the person led me

To a cottage, where I felt warm,

And strangely right at home.

My eyes began to open,

And bleary visions started to appear.

Something was set before me

And I ate. The taste was wholesome,

Yet with delight, I thought it tasted more like apple pie

With caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream

Than any porridge I had ever seen.

But as my eyes came back to me

I looked, to see a plain wooden bowl

And a few globs of lumpy oats, uneaten.

And so I offered my heartfelt thanks

And hurried away, before I could see too well,

Or know the name of the person

Who had saved me.

-jenn