The Sea Witch

"If I show you all my scars  
will you show me all of yours?"  
   
On a cold dark night by firelight  
lost beside the roaring sea,    
waves roll in as the tide goes out    
she said “sit and stay with me.”  
   
“Will you draw me every detail  
of the life you lived back then?”  
   
“Fetch me photographs you cherish  
just sift through dust and see,  
young faces from your attic, please  
share fond memories with me.”  
   
“If I tell you of my wanderings  
will you tell me what you’ve seen?”  
   
“My dreams sunk long ago below    
thousand fathoms out to sea,  
there wasn’t much to pick through  
but I’ll tell you all I knew.”  
   
“If I shows you tails of serpents  
will you spin me scales of snakes?”  
   
I peered curiously through firelight  
saw her ancient eyes turn red,  
two sharp claws reached out for me  
but just then I awakened in bed!