Farewell Poem by KENNETH FORDHAM

Clouds cover the night,
Erie sounds abound the air,
Coyotes howling in the distance,
You look, you stare,
But nothing you can see,
Is there.

So why is there chills,
Up your back,
Hair standing on end,
Courage you don’t lack.

Something coming from behind,
Getting closer all the time,
Darkness prevails the trees,
So scared, you fall to your knees.

Now up and running,
Someone playing a joke,
You gasp for air,
You choke.

In front of you now,
Turning somehow,
No place to run,
Where is your gun.

Growling,
From all around,
You sit quietly,
Not making a sound.

Bats flying, swooping,
Closer it gets,
Clinging to a tree,
No outlets.

Darker and darker,
As the night goes on,
Clatter and clamor,
As if nothing is wrong.

Running again,
Moving so fast,
You take a deep breath,
As if it were your last.

Deeper and deeper,
Into the woods you go,
Dimmer and dimmer,
The light you did know.

Which way to run,
You are lost in the woods.
No kind of option,
Which way is good.

A noise is heard,
A branch did break,
The closer it gets,
The more you shake.

What to do now,
You’re out of time,
Sweat on your brow,
The bells did chime.

Now you know,
Without a doubt,
Which way to go,
You want to shout.

Faster and faster,
Toward the town,
But you hear it gaining,
You almost fall down.

More and more frightened,
With each step you take,
Your muscles have weakened,
There is no mistake.

Now in a clearing,
The road you have found,
You feel like cheering,
But cant make a sound.

Then all of a sudden,
You see it come near,
Your pulse did quicken,
From so much fear.

It reaches out,
To grab you from behind,
Faster and furious,
As if streamlined.

You got away,
What a story to tell,
But another day,
Farewell.