Unknown Fear Poem by Bishnupada Sethi

At this hour
Past midnight
No one is awoke
To communicate with-
The silence engulfs my neighborhood.
From a portion of my living space
Darkness is dispelled by the glowing lamps.
At times faint whispering sounds outside
Of wavering bamboo bushes rise
In a definite crescendo.
The infrequent falling of leaves
The occasional chirps of night birds
Make one feel certain difference.

Lo and behold
I think I can see
Being in clear senses-
You are here
Just in my front.
You don't speak.
You look angry
And bear no other expression
And you advance towards me
With a fury.
Almost tied to my bed
I'm helpless
As in no time
I will be finished
By the daggers you are holding
And I shout at my top
Seeking help to escape-
A certain death.

Later I realize-
In the company of family members
You couldn't have been there
For I'd seen your last journey
From all the living spaces
To the kingdom of void.
What then is the encounter that I had
In the night?
Was it created out of the fear
That I had from you
Which still hovers
Somewhere in my living space?