Red Riding Hood

Little red riding hood, pretty and young
set off through the woods one night
Although she'd been warned, she'd no fear of the dark
when the moon overhead shone so bright

As she wended her way through the forested track
she did not go by unseen
And there came the sound of the breeze in the trees
where never the wind had been

She passed from the looming trees into a glade,
and she stopped, her ears catching sound
she knew from shiver that passed down her spine
she was followed - but she dare not turn round

She heard the soft sound of a footfall behind her
a laugh floating low through the air
"now what are you doing, alone in my woods,
little girl, with your long dark hair?

Little red turned then, to answer this voice
from the one who had followed her trail
and when she beheld who had questioned her thus
she quivered - couldn't help but turn pale

A figure so threatening, towering and dark
with teeth bright and set in a smirk
The wolf, big and bad, a hunter so fierce
who alone in the woods did lurk

"please sir" pleaded little red, meeting his eyes
"let me pass through your woods free from harm"
she laid her small hand on the predator's wrist
this wolf, she thought, she would charm

The wolf looked at her with his eyes dancing dark
and his lips curving up in a grin
"oh, sweet little red" he growled, low and rough
"you don't know how much trouble you're in"

He lunged for her swiftly, but she turned and she fled
racing fast as she could through the dark
like her feet were lent wings she dashed into the woods
through dappled moonlight and shadows so stark

aye, she fled through the forest as quick as she'd go
her heart beating out of her chest
her cloak flew behind her, a bright streak of red
the wolf followed, a hunter possessed.

he chased her for minutes, he chased her for hours,
but she kept away just by a stride
he ran fast as he could, but he couldn't gain ground
no matter how hard he tried

Until then at long last, his hand caught her cloak,
and one tug brought an end to the chase
but though she was caught, if you look you would swear
that that was a grin on her face

and so little red riding hood fell to the ground
on her back 'neath the leaves of an oak tree
She looked up with a smile, grabbed the wolf by the chin,
said "what took you so long, puppy? Eat Me."