The Presence

THE PRESENCE After prayers, I blew off the lantern Laid down, faced up, in dead man’s pattern As accustomed, I wrapped up my face, next Thing, wrapper intensified the darkness. Suddenly fear and horror was roped in With force, my reflex flung it open It was just me and my soul in bed, Listening to hear what the darkness said. Silently, it ushered in an awful presence Filled the room, awakened my sixth sense It was accompanied by a soundless breeze Hovering around my head, my breath ceased Stomach purged as my heart beats fast Body goose pimpled, eyes opened at last. In the direction of the door my gaze fixed Eyes became woozy, feelings mixed. Though no image was physically visible, but I felt something standing right in my front. Like it moved, suddenly I felt it so close My mouth shivered, my mind froze ‘Please who are you, what have I done? I’m innocent, please spare mama’s only son’ After I spoke, the silence rang louder Darkness was thicker, image was bolder Stretched my arms, nothing I could touch I wished for two things, death or a torch There, my thoughts rambled astray With that blank mind, I thought to re-pray. I summoned courage to shut my eyes again Not up to a minute I popped it open, it was day I beheld the ray of the morning sun As it shone through my pane, fear was gone. Asking, was that a dream or a trance? Or was my mind playing some pranks? Imaginations went high, emotion stooped low I didn’t know what I saw cos I didn’t see what I know Trying to figure out what that presence was about, I lost knowledge of what to believe or doubt I never believed in Angels or Demons, But that night replaced my old beliefs with new ones.