Topiary Ghosts

Sculpted emerald hewn from flora, Shapes of wolf and killer bear, Silent stalkers cast an aura, Frozen, snow-flecked, stand and stare. Visual periphery, cornered eye, Did it shift a fraction then? Glimpsed a world somewhat awry, Swear it's closer, look again. Then look away, then back once more, Varied postures struck as well, Closer still, I could have swore, By the very teeth of hell. Crash of motion, flurried burst, In bristled mazes, green and pale, Chasing through a mind accursed, Stood still, yet run to no avail. Fleeing through the walls of brush, In dizzied panic, fevered doubt, Chasing tails in frenzied rush, With no escape...with no way out...