A Day In the Park

In the park, I’d been all day Reading all my time away On a park bench did I sit Until the sky became twilit As light for reading began to wane I heard the tapping of a cane. And looking up, to find that sound ‘T was an old man which my eyes found Bent of stature, with shuffling gait And cane helping support his weight He moved toward me in twilight glow The beard he donned was white as snow His hooded cloak there in place Hid from view his bearded face But … he moved on steadily And closer then he came to me. My gaze shifted to my book As his passage overtook My presence and my train of thought On that park bench I had sought. Then, unexpectedly, I found the man right next to me The hooded shroud was still in place Preventing me to see his face. Without a word the man sat down And to my face that brought a frown This bench I wanted not to share! Yet he sat down without a care. In protest was I about to speak When he lifted his hand antique And then in voice commanding low “I’ve something you should know”. By his voice was I hypnotized My entire being was tranquilized I stared at antique hands so pale Then began the old man’s tale: “You’ll find a house not far from here Filled with loathing, filled with fear And you might wonder how I know My presence here makes it so”. “The house, it sits on Wilsons’ Hill All abandoned, cold and still, Trees stay barren, grass won’t grow And constantly do ill winds blow.” “Birds won’t fly, dogs won’t walk Stray cats don’t even stalk Across or near that House of Hate … Listen now … it’s getting late!” “From deep within that house at night Emits an eerie, glowing light Oh, that light … I know it well, It’s emitted - straight from Hell!” “Once a man of youth was I Having aspirations to the sky, And senses of immortality And those of curiosity.” “‘Twas one summer long ago On a dare I was to go Walk inside that House of Hate Then return to re-instate,” “My belief and then decree The house contained but normalcy. I took the dare - I walked inside, And since then … I there abide.” “Now, ’tis only once a year That I’m allowed to quickly veer Outside it’s walls, and rusted gate And find someone to share my fate” “To embrace the horror I’ve endured To expand the evil I’ve assured To return with me and be my mate And share the Evil House of Hate.” The old man then turned his head, And as I looked, with growing dread, His hooded shroud moved in place … At last I saw his bearded face. Within two hollows dark as night His eyes were embers burning bright And just before he cast his spell In those embers I saw Hell ! Reaching forth his ancient hand Whose touch would be my deadly brand I jumped back, as I screamed I was quick, but slow it seemed. I grabbed the cane, swinging hard And caught the man quite off guard I heard the thud, and filled with fear For his status was now unclear But … for all the things I feared I found the man had … disappeared. No shoes, no cloak … it was plain Left only was his walking cane. Many years of time have passed And I can tell you now at last ‘T was the cane that held my fate: I live now, in the House of Hate. And now, too, I will stride Through that park and take a ride On a soul of someone there And to you, dear reader, I say … PREPARE!