Member Poem

One cold, stormy and dreary night
while I was long lost in my musing,
There came a knocking, faint and light
yet startled me from my dozing.

In the grim glow of a solitary candle
I got out of my old chair acreaking
and to the front door I did waddle,
Through the eyeglass began peeking.

But for the road with such bleak a plight
as was snow dust drifting and swirling,
There was nary a soul in sight
so much so my heart began racing.

Frozen to the ground I stood still
deep into the darkness I kept peering,
In the grip of fear and weak of will,
who might be? I kept wondering.

With a rush of rare valor and insight
I nudged ajar my dwelling door
to explore this mystery of my fright --
Lo, just darkness there and nothing more.

With a smile and back in my chair;
Once again I heard now a loud tapping
to confront the intruder, clear and fair
and unravel this behavior beguiling,

I marched emboldened to the door
and opened it wide now unfearing
hoping only darkness there and no more
and forever stop this irksome rapping.

With cold sweat welling on my brow,
Perched upon my front porch railing
emerged from darkness a carrion crow
where it appears to have taken to roosting.

A stealer of soul, messenger of death,
with its beady black eyes kept at me looking
seems brooding to let me live few more breaths
with a sly smile on its beak amocking.

With a choking dismay I crumpled to the floor
drenched in cold sweat, shivering, fluttering;
When I raised my head the crow was no more --
A close encounter or was I just dreaming?

(Inspired by Edgar A Poe's “The Raven”)