The Shadow

In the dead of night by a lamp so bright
sits a creature of shadow and eyes of light.

Difficult to see, but impossible to miss,
it lingers about on nights such as this.

To tread too close would not be wise;
it will pounce as soon as you blink your eyes.

You could turn to run, but you wouldn't get far.
It would be right behind you; its mouth ajar.

In an instant you would be no more
than a shadow of who you were before.

Your eyes would become light and your body grow dim,
and on the next night you would be just like him;

forced to wait forevermore
for the next poor soul to ignore this lore.