In the Woods, a Cabin...

Nightfall,
and with it an ominous chill,
then fear,
overpowering...
You hear the hoot of an owl,
smell woodsmoke,
see a cabin- there, in the clearing
and you think- humans?
then wonder- friend or foe?
And there comes a sound
as if of chanting,
pleasant, melodious
almost like prayer...
It is in a language
foreign, indecipherable
the voice pulls you closer
spellbound-
though part of you wants
to slip away
-back, into the night...
But the unknown is revealed
by one word,
" Welcome"
it comes thickly accented
spoken by a woman
gnarled as a hag,
though seemingly benevolent
and behind her stands a child,
- an angelic, black-eyed boy,
he carries a tray of pastries
and tiny porcelain cups
brimming with tea.