Who's there?

Day 2 - Prompt: Who's there? Imagery laden poetry requested.



Comforting gleam winks out from hall,
Dark smothers all well-known shapes,
A shuffle slithers soft along the wall,
Is it the wind flirting with the drapes?

‘Who’s there?’ I tremble to say,
I swallow and attempt to pray.

What critter creeps from down below?
Fiendish cunning avoids tread or creak,
Those old stairs give no warning to show
if scaly snake or winged beast with beak.

‘Who’s there?’ stifling uneven breath,
As throbbing thoughts run to death.

Zephyr whispers an ominous warning
Hushed nemesis looms – it’s here,
I knew I would not last till morning,
It’s all over now for me, I fear.

Who’s there?’ repeating querulous query
Echoing silence gives answer chary.

Soft pallid hand reaches out and gropes,
Those fingers swift to reach their mark,
Just before life from faint heart elopes,
Victim of the baleful Lurking Snark.

“Who’s there?” a last despairing cry,
Useless knowledge if I’m to die.

Instinct impels one to rise up and hold,
A rustle of lace and well known scent,
Warm, caring arms are there to enfold,
And banish all those fiends hell-bent.

“It’s mother dear, I’ve brought a light
I’ll tuck you in and say Good-night.”

This light-less trial was rash and wild,
There’s time and more to conquer fear.
I revert unashamed to her little child,
I will grow up some time next year.

“Who’s there?” Safe glimmer now defies
anybody to prevent my closing eyes.