Forest, wanted

to run away to.

Must have:

enough trees
to burn a city;

enough leaves
to carpet the moon.

a dense border
like the concertinaed layering of a
black ball gown;

The successful applicant:

must rustle in the dark
will be at home

in the fairytale story book,
be experienced in the fields

of wait lying,
comforting the lost,

must know
how to lay a line
of small white pebbles.

The forest must have a clearing at it’s heart,
large enough to house a single occupant.

Or be prepared to make one;

must be prepared
to hold it like a pearl
through it’s longest nights.

Parks and gardens
need not apply.