The Bogeyman

Soaking wet the grey sheep huddle
by the stone wall shaped and laid
to last five hundred more years still.
Rains sheeting o'er the moor leave 
us dripping as the fish in Foley's Tarn.
Clouds careen across the sky like 
ragged flags unfurling, our house is
battered by the storm's relentless wrath,

and something's coming...

It's nights like this that bring the creature 
from the other side of time, misshapen 
wretch,no measure of humanity,
drags its loathsome body to our door.
Squelching abomination, a travesty of decency 
and grace. Not marked in any almanac, no picture 
of this beast save in the nightmares 
of our child, who flies into his mother's 
arms and trembles, trying to scrape 
the ugly specter from his mind,
     
for he knows...

he can feel the slimy presence
hidden deep within the shadows 
of the house. Is it living only in his 
darkest fears? Once settled is he 
free of fang and claw?

"Leave the light on, Mom!"
Copyright © | Year Posted 2008

Poem

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Gass Avatar
February 6, 2009 at 7:11 AM
Wow Keith, love this spooky write. I read King and Koontz and like a good fright. The ending adds just the right amount of humor to this delightful read! Love and hugs, Robin
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
December 28, 2008 at 5:55 PM
Even the wind sounds spookie when the lights are out. Good write. Vince
Meikle Avatar
December 28, 2008 at 5:56 AM
drippin as the fish in Foley's Tarn!! .........What a beautiful line! An I see ye've met the bin man too. Thanks for writing you make reading a pleasure
Gorelick Avatar
December 27, 2008 at 2:07 PM
I'm leaving th light on tonight ..for sure! I enjoyed this. When I was little I thought there was an alligator under my bed..how many nights did i call for my mother to come and look!? sigh.BG
Winter Avatar
December 27, 2008 at 5:28 AM
Awesome! I am a huge fan of horror (not the gory kind) especially Stephen King. You captured the bogey man well with this and I loved the ending. Love, Shar
Dvorkis Avatar
December 26, 2008 at 11:04 PM
huh...you had me there.
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