The Heart In The Box

If you travel  a cobblestone path in the dark, many things you will find

A bone, a yew, a piece of a shoe and maybe a castle of kind

If you go to the castle and follow the lore

A little old man will answer the door

He’ll ask about you, and he’ll take off your load

He’ll ask what you’re doing

So far from the road

He’ll talk you in circles

And talk you in squares

He’ll end in a backroom

And show you his wares

Rusty forceps, and handcuffs

An old looking razor

A musty old blanket, a bloody briefcase or

A leg from a cat, a microscope slide

A dingy old bottle of formaldehyde

Refuse if you will

He’ll just smirk after all

And offer a bedroom near the end of the hall

The room will have windows, a bath and a loft

A bed and some piping and a view of the toft

But if you look closer

And closer you will

You’ll notice a blood stain on the windowsill

Startled you’ll be and you’ll look at the bed

And there you’ll find hair from another head

The hair in itself isn’t so bad

As it is a guest bed

But what of the strands still attached to the head?

You cry and you’ll scream and you’ll race for the door

You scramble and scurry all over the floor

The little old man will appear in your path

Just like to every before you he hath

He’ll ask why you’re running

He’ll ask where you’ll go

He’ll laugh in your face and he’ll hand you a box

From that day forward you’ll never fall ill

You’ll never feel guilty or shake from a chill

You’ll feel right as rain

And you’ll do as you wish

The world has found you a wonderful niche

Someday you’ll get curious

Look in the box

And there you’ll find a shock and a start

Looking back at you is your own human heart

There you’ll drop dead

Your story now through

Hurt by none of the things that used to hurt you

The next soul will wander into the overpriced shed

And they’ll find that same blood...

And your head

Say it’s a legend

A story of sorts

You’ll smooth out your blouse and straighten your shorts

But answer me this, ‘fore you’re out of my sight

Will you ever go into a castle at night?