The Street Poem by Sarath Gopalakrishnan

Is it a wonder the streetlights are out
Whenever I take that path?
I know, I dared a welcome into the darkness.
From its dead end, I hear the growl of an invisible beast.

As I trudged down the pavement,
Dogs sensed the scent of my shadow,
Monsters from an old tale hovered around for my blood,
Dark water carrying the corpse of the day coursed underneath me.
I shut my eyes to blend in to the music of terror.
I clasped my hands in fear.

I heard -
drum beats from a distant lake,
dogs charging down at me,
a rally of spirits protesting for my blood,
a dead man's prayer from the dirty water.
An urge punched my stomach, to sing along.
I walked past it, in horror.

As I reached the end of the street,
The barking faded away,
The catcalls subdued,
The clamour of the dead vaporized into silence.
When I looked back, the street lights were smiling at me.