Beguiled

Haunting ghouls of the damp rainforest,
Deep in the shadows as evening advances on the torpid afternoon,
Curlews call me, dare me, enter their domain,
Suppress my fear and meet the creatures of the moon.

Peering, venturing, stepping over into the tangled gloom,
Eyes blinded, a cooling mist descends on overheated skin,
Arms wide, head back, swinging hair, faint melody enters me,
Swaying barefoot, turning, turning, dancing to the song within.

Breathing mosses, musty ferns, cloying perfumes, unknown airs,
Hearing scampers, rustles, padding, creeping feet and claws around,
Slowing, stilling, eyes adapting, shapes emerge and form a wall,
Eyes benign and gently watching, cover me from tree to ground.

Cascading flowers, sparkling dust, cover shoulders, head and breasts,
Glancing upwards, meeting smiles, returning same - a language shared,
Winged, furred, bejewelled, or crested, scaled, painted, or sinuous,
Peaceable kingdom, charmed companions, talents, magics, feelings bared.

Mythic creatures, wondrous, wild, emanating silent welcome
Amidst them all and wrapped in shadow, a beauteous man is reading me,
Dark eyes read desires, yearnings, laying bare my heart, my mind,
Inviting, guiling, promising, join him in equality.

Leave your world and enter mine, make these and mine your family,
Learn to cherish and be cherished, take my devotion, love and care.
One last look back, relinquishing, treading softly to his side,
Kneeling, gazing, supplicating, His cape surrounds me everywhere..
..teach me, Master...