The Terror

He never came out in the daytime, though

He’d always come out at night,

I’d hear his feet, pass in the street

By the gaslamp’s feeble light,

He’d peer through the frosted window glass

And I swear that he always hissed,

Whenever I opened the trap, he’d gone

A-swirl in the yellow mist.

 

We huddled under the chimney piece,

We huddled under the stair,

Whenever his steps were echoing

From here to the you-know-where,

I tried to protect my Carolyn

Who would shut her eyes and ears,

He had the power, for over an hour

To bring Carolyn to tears.

 

He’d come when the frost brought icicles

He’d come when the wind would blow,

He’d come when I left her tricycle

Outside, and covered in snow,

And then when the ice on the window ledge

Began to go crack-crack-crack,

She often hid, right under the lid

Where the firewood lay in a stack.

 

And then when the door blew open, from

A gust in the wind out there,

We’d lie, with fears unspoken

As the creaking rose up the stair,

Then Carolyn shrieked, while I couldn’t speak

For hearing her cries and moans,

As terror spread, from under the bed

And chattered through teeth and bones.

 

I swore that he wore a big black hat

With a brim that covered his eyes,

Carolyn wrote that he wore a cloak

As part of his dread disguise,

But nobody would believe us, ‘til

We heard he was coming back,

His hobnailed boots on the cobblestones

Approached, a-click and a-clack.

 

They’d slow, and stop by the outer door

Our hearts in our mouths, alas,

And then his shadow would fall right there

He’d peer through the frosted glass,

The knocker had an echoing sound

As he knocked, went rat-tat-tat,

And mother leapt to the door in a bound,

‘Dear God! It’s Uncle Jack!’

 

David Lewis Paget

Author's Note

This is my 1,000th Poem, since I began to write poetry in 1966. So 1,000 poems has taken me 48 years.

Reviews

[Barbz]

I am loving his poetry......Depth and simplicity all rolled into one......my grandchildren , likewise , appreciated his poetry as they sat on my bed last night and asked for "just one more"......don't you love positive feedback from wide-eyed children......'n Hey, what about me!!4q

[FaeryQueen]

this is my favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mary]

Congratulations, David! Your poem just goes to show that you can have both quality and quantity! Love this- I always imagine myself sitting around a campfire or fireplace with friends, listening to the best story ever!!!! I'd give you a thousand for this to celebrate, but the most I can give is 100, so 100 it is, hehe

[msharma]

Your 48 years of craftsmanship is easily seen .What a picture presented. Wonderful write up

[Dark Empress]

Lovely poem, congratulations on your 1000th poem!

[andrew mitchell]

Speechless I am Brilliant Another Mt Everest write, top of the pinnacle of pinnacles. Into favs it goes

[Miss Octavia Jeltz Wood..]

Oh, gracious me! Such a charming, charming piece!

[Sharon L.H. Kelly]

Amazing imagery, flow and suspense. I was engrossed in your tale. Congratulations on your 1,000th poem. Looking forward to many more!

[Devanshu Rajput]

Oh my! 1000 poems!!!!!!!!!!!!!Congratulations, for this feat.

I think, next time whenever I hear a strange sound, rather than being in consternation, I will be blissful, as it can be Uncle Jack or my Uncle or just anyone.

I liked the way you kept us in dark and then instantly made us smile.

Another masterpiece by a master of poetry, that no doubt are you.

Devanshu

As always I am amazed and simply love your writing. The tale took me away in a whirl right along with them to the very last line. Congrats on your 1000th poem.. and I sincerely hope to read many more.

[Ian Gilmour]

The imagery here is haunting, but poetically beautiful. You've painted a marvelous picture with your words that are reminiscent of a horror story but concluded it with playful style. This was excellent. Well done.