One Dismal Night
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Credits: Becca-Teagan
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One Dismal Night
One dismal night in Autumn’s chill
With thunder, deafening and shrill --
I, in my chamber, dark and damp
Lay restlessly near flick’ring lamp
Heard scratching just behind the curtain
‘twas but a tree branch, I was certain
Still half-asleep in fitful slumber
‘midst crashing sounds of shaking thunder
With blanket pulled to hide my head
All nestled down into my bed --
Yet even still, could not be drowned,
That horrid, scratching-scratching sound
Tossing -- tossing to and fro
My heavy pillow I did throw
As if to stop that scratching sound
That made my head begin to pound!
But yet the noise continued still --
Such scratching, scratching, on the sill
Reluctantly I left my bed
And headed toward the thing of dread --
Flung back the curtains with disdain
Threw open window to the rain --
Thus welcoming a feline beast
If only so the scratching ceased!
Conceding shelter for the night
I lay back down and cut the light
Relinquished slowly to my dreams --
Awakened suddenly to screams!
They were my own, these anguished cries!
That feline clawing at my eyes!
Scratching, scratching at my head --
Tearing me, my flesh to shreds --
My screaming didn’t scare it off
It looked at me as if to scoff
My bed became my grave, it seemed --
‘till I awakened from my dream …
Its eyes -- they bore into my soul
I grabbed it up with just one goal --
The force at which I threw that beast
Against the wall -- the scratching ceased
Then threw its body out the door
To haunt me, haunt me nevermore!
Thus bringing peace to follow fast --
Yet peace like this will never last
For every night, I toss and turn
My head, it spins - my ears, they burn
For every night, upon the sill --
I hear the scratching-scratching still
| Copyright © Becca Teagan | Year Posted 2017 |
Source - PoetrySoup™
