Windows dark as blackest night

High the turrets proudly spear
the burning twilight sky
Embers of a falling sun
beyond the castle lie
Windows dark as blackest night
upon the forest spy

Swift like shadows silent shapes
through branches fly and fall
Raging hoofbeats pound the road
that few now dare at all
Faster! cracks the wordless whip
Do not slow or stall!

“Stop!” a voice from inside wails
“You’re going to get us killed!”
Loud the coachman’s sudden scream
that’s just as sudden stilled
Terrified, a maid peers out –
and from the door she’s spilled

Thunderous the coach’s wheels
all spitting stones and mud
Wild the river’s throaty roar
threatening to flood
Bright the moon-bathed crimson trail
the splash of coachman’s blood

Lashing rain and driving wind
the bitter breath of night
Wolves a-howling close and far
yet ever out of sight
Whimpering, the fear-struck maid
flees swift toward the light

Through the open gate she runs
the courtyard brightly lit
Torches sconced upon the walls
a bonfire in a pit
Carcass roasting, drained of blood
and turning on a spit

Cold the hand that seals her lips
the air upon her cheek
Cold the mouth against her ear
the lips that softly speak
“Come, sweet maid, and lie with me
and nevermore be weak”

High the turrets proudly spear
the twinkling star-bright sky
Embers of a fallen maid
within the castle lie
Windows dark as blackest night
upon the forest spy