This weeks New Poem:Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

Here is my latest piece of writing, another poem. This time a sombre piece, written again to a creative writing prompt from a random pass on the web sites offering these. 

A strange one for me, I started without any idea of where the subject would take me as I often do when using a prompt. And in this case I actually started the poem (the first verse and a half) by using a poetry generator. I use the strategy to give me a first line or two but never take what is offered without some heavy editing.

The prompt I used was "Are You Afraid Of The Dark?" As an adult, I am not but what would make me feel this way? Perhaps a dream .... a nightmare? Or did something happen on a camping trip as a child? Maybe You could make your own mind up?

OK, here it is...

sourced from Pixabay (creative commons)

Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

Once upon a midnight sombre,

Through which came tapping, tapping, tapping.

In there stepped a haunting downbeat,

Still is rapping, still is rapping.

I felt compelled to scour the setting

I awoke with such a start.

Ah, distinctly I was strumming,

"Take thy woe from out my heart".

At that my soul knew fear.

The thunderclouds spoke of death.

Whilst in the earth I saw a grave,

My body failed to draw a breath.

I heard a maniacal, muted moaning;

A solemn, sepulchral shrieking.

I believed my time was over

As I heard my spirit weeping

I had never been so frightened,

Never dreaming of these shadows;

And the creatures I imagined

From long forgotten barrows.

But just before I drew my last breath

A light appeared in the eastern sky. 

The coming dawn rode to my rescue

The demons dissolved before my eye.

Years later grown into adulthood,

Still remembering that fright;

When asked why I am afraid of the dark,

I confess the happenings that night.

Thanks for reading, I have actually collected enough poems for a fourth poetry book ( well perhaps a pamphlet would be a better description) but it will be available on Amazon sometime soon if things go well.