Something Wicked Stalks the Light

My first Halloween offering this year

Nighttime walk down a lonely city street

Trailed by the echoing of another’s feet

Electric street lamps sizzling, a flickering

Create fluid shadows dancing, snickering

In the gloom… something wicked stalks the light

prowling in the shadows… just beyond sight.

Just there… right out the corner of your eye

Something formless… something undefined you spy

Creeping closer… closer… yet still unseen

Slithering… shambling… murmuring… obscene

Dark malevolence dwells in the darkness

You hear in the shadows a susurus

An itch prickles between your shoulder blades

Your small courage so very quickly fades

Breath catching… you gasp… “Breathe” you tell yourself

Walking ever faster, you hope for help

The steps behind speed up… keep pace with you

With a loud clomp, stomp, scramble… what to do?

Don’t look deep… don’t peer into the shadows

Or you’ll be lost… forever lost in fear’s throes

A light… gasp… right there… up ahead… just goes out

Shadows in blackening gloom there now sprout

In the dark, shadowed depths, blazing red eyes 

Feeding off the terror in your fear’s rise

A sudden turning taking you away

From that lonely path where those shadows play

by D. Denise Dianaty

Reviews

[realmwriter]

I'd say it's pretty spooky. Ray Bradburyesk. But I do believe only in the title. Makes me of course, think of "Something Wicked This Way Comes" But it is very Poe. My favorite of all Bards even more than the greatest Shakespeare himself.

"A sudden turning taking you away
From that lonely path where those shadows play"

Might I add on from here?

Very well done I must say.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Avery ominous poem. It sends chills downmy spine.

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks! I'm busy republishing all my stuff here to Medium where I can make a few pennies on each of them. That's why I keep highlighting my older stuff.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

very fun to read. it put a wicked smile on my face.

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks! 😎

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

I loved the staccato form. You can feel it creeping up behind you.
A different form from your norm. Liked it.

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks. Haven't we all felt that, though?

Did you read "Mary, Mary, How Does Your Garden Grow?" and "Do You Know the Muffin Man?" They're also in strict meter and rhyme.

[R Smith]

very spooky too Mom, loved every word and yes i counted syllables too, i get the picture, i'll try to get the discipline, next time I write a new one, thanks for the advice :)

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks, R. It's not always easy, but some poems do seem to benefit from the strict meter. You should have read the rough draft of this one. It was just a meandering mess! :D

[Sindu]

A pretty late comment.. but yep.. that's exciting :D
I like horror stuff so ya.. spooky as in exciting.. brilliant imagery
imagined it like anime or a comic strip maybe.. :)

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks. :D

[Sanjh]

This is awesome. I was picturizing each and every line in my mind and it was scary.
Your first attempt is a master piece. Thank you for sharing...:)

[MomzillaNC]

A masterpiece? IDAT! But, thank you very much.

[Confuser]

Well your attempt was quite a success. I was there with you wondering, who could it be? I really enjoyed it. You are a great writer and it was wonderful to read it. Now, I breath, it was great. Thank you.

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks so much. :D

[Confuser]

You're quite welcome. Have a great weekend.

[MomzillaNC]

You too. :D

[Confuser]

alrighty keep up the writing; you are very good.

[TheLostMind]

Fantastic!. Loved it :).. Your portrayal of fear / terror is too good. Great job.. Thanks for sharing:)

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you.

[Jesse Booker]

Well done! It really seems to play on people's real-life paranoia as much as anything.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you.

[TL Boehm]

run. run like hell. I'm already a bit skeered of the dark and this thing sunk its teeth into my neurosis and gave it a good shake. Skin crawly and well penned.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. :D