On a walk through the woods one autumn day I saw an old cabin in miserable decay Over the crumbling walls and down the short hall Crept sinewy vines and the bright leaves of fall shattered windows lay half-hidden in dust The front door hinges were covered with rust. I couldn’t help stopping to stand there to stare Imagining the people that might have lived there. The moss-covered roof had collapsed on the ground Bricks from the chimney were scattered around Tangled grasses and weeds were as high as my knee And up from one room grew a stately young tree I had to wonder as I turned round to go Of tales, the cabin could tell of long, long ago. Yet, interesting events in the cabin’s past history Were concealed in the ruins to remain forever a mystery