moonlight

one foggy night i found myself
deep within the darkened woods
i lost the path i thought i'd known
and the edges of the forest 
were immediately infinite 
terrified of what malevolence 
awaited me in ambush
i stumbled on scattered roots and rocks
with panic pulsing through my heart
and seeping back into my veins
i noticed insects dare not chirp
and while i knew these homely woods 
sheltered no emboldened beasts
no baleful eyes or tendrilled teeth
just sleeping cubs and strange raccoons
i still felt something vulgar stalk me 
shrouded in the ink of night
until the charcoal clouds parted
to share a silver and ephemeral glow
that lit the woods and watershed
and turned the trail egyptian blue
to show me i had been alone 
but for a familiar mark ahead
an arrow carved in a dogwood tree
pointing toward the moonlight