i remember his sly smile and the gentle nod he gave , then he started playing somber , wretched notes that screamed in pain ; these he teased to softer texture where his voice crept in between ; heres the ballad i procured by asking him to please explain : i huddled in among the trees outside the castle walls , a creeping , shadowed mystery with feather-soft footfalls ; the lamplight of the passing guard was lost inside the fog ; i crept forward , softly forward from tree to fallen log ; when the light had finally past without a warning call , i hurried through the fresh-cut grass and up against the wall ; it was just as i remembered brick and mortar , creeping vine , tiny fissures for my fingers , perfect toeholds i could climb .