THE WOODS AFTER DARK

I’m walking through the woods,
Alone, after dark,
When a casual glance upward
Ends my lark.

A manlike cloud flies across the sky
It hides the Moon
As it passes by.

A wispy beard, flecked with gray
Is outlined in silver
As he turns away.

Long, stringy hair trails behind
Visions of Evil
Squirm through my mind.

His nose is thin and has a pointed end.
What is his mission
As he rides the wind?

Surely nothing can hide from his gaze
up there,
As he searches for prey
Riding currents of air.

A bat flies by fluttering through the night
My skin starts to crawl
I shiver in fright.

For an instant the creature opens an eye
A moonbeam shines through
And lights half the sky.

A feeling of dread, a shiver of fear
I’m more certain than ever
That Evil is near.

I try to hide hoping he’ll fly past
But his gaze stops on me
He’s found his prey at last.

The cloud changes shape as it draws near
It flaps its wings
I run in fear.

The cloud comes to Earth and takes a nightmare’s form
A Beast thirsting for blood
Frothy and warm.

I hear a howl and gnashing teeth
Clawed feet crunching bushes
That pass underneath.

I now see lights through the trees ahead.
Will I reach my safe home
And my warm bed?

Or will tonight end this life
Still my voice
End all strife?

I feel hot breath, fetid and sour
My legs move faster
To prolong life’s last hour.

The Beast stops short at the edge of the wood
I’m safe in the lights
Of my neighborhood.

I turn and look, gasping for breath
Wondering what’s caused
This brush with death.

Two yellow eyes gleam through the night
The Beast moans its anguish
Its prey safe in the light.

I’ll tell no one ‘cause they’ll never believe
What lights can’t show
And their minds can’t conceive.

But I know that just beyond the edge of sight
Lies a realm of darkness
Void of all light.

Spooks and ghouls fly through its air
All manner of Evil
Makes a home out there.

But now as I tuck myself in bed
I hope that nice dreams
Will fill my head.

Should you ever walk the dark woods,
Full of mirth,
Laughing at my tale
Certain that Man rules this Earth,

And you hear a branch creak or the wind’s soft moan
Don’t be so sure
You might not be alone.
****