Fear of the Dark !

texting when somebody is talking to you = bad manners !

I felt compelled as oft the case

to take a stroll of an evening late

so suitably attired I set off, 

out the door, out the gate,

crossed the road, walked ahead

approahed to a lonely lane

and with purpose in stride 

proceeded along dark domain!

 

The night sky clear, stars twinkling

set far behind a luminous moon

blackthorn hedge on either side, 

enclosed within a linear tomb

undeterred I journeyed onwards

as sterile air revitalized my lungs

then in the stillness of the night

I heard the wagging of little tongues?

 

Caw and cackle of old crows

roosting high up in the trees

each securing solid purchase

before the night time freeze

then maybe a shrieking banshee cry

nope, just the howling of a feral fox,

those flapping sounds, vampires not

just a circling owl or hunting hawks

 

now well freshed, calm and satiated

intrigued by nature’s nocturnal, noise,

returning home, back up the street, 

I passed a couple of hooded boys

politely I bid one each “Good night”  

but no reply, each texting on phones,

so briskly I continued home, though

perturbed..

Those two rude beings chilled my bones!

Author's Note

BTW the accompanying photo is me, in winter attire ! ( Scary ) !!

Reviews

[AYVID N]

The evening walk was delightful Tom! All those chilling yet thrilling night noises are so energezing and would be lovely followed by a drink and dinner! Enjoyed the fine, well crafted verses very much. A poem after my heart. And the pic is a treat for your friends who get to see more of you!

[Tom]

Hey Divya my beautiful and brilliant Indian bard, here's a proposal? What about you & me take a walk along that chilling lane one dark night, and if you don't get too afraid and run away, I'll buy the drink & dinner...spicy with papadoms of course !!

[AYVID N]

All smiles. Now that would be a true treat, dear Tom. I am so captivated by the beauty of your land, the white woods must glow under the moon as did the lovely homes beside the Atlantic, lit up with fairy lights. I can so imagine the chilling beauty at night. So, dear friend, I'll look forward to next visit. Dinner would be appreciated a lot! I love port wine. And no, I won't be running away from such great stuff! :)

[Tom]

Hi Divya! If went for a similar walk together in your lovely land, might a tiger or leopard eat us ??

[AYVID N]

Lol. Perhaps not dear Tom but I'd be more afraid of people. The ruffians on the streets. The dark hour and you and me would make for quite an exotic kind of pair :)

[Tom]

Yes we would indeed, yea, you're right, it's human beings that are the more likely menace and sadly, that may well be the case wherever we venture, but I'm happy to take my chance !!

[AYVID N]

Thats so sweet and nice to know, my dear friend....

[Sami Khalil]

I was following through this lovey but eerily poem, anticipating Halloweenish and frightful things, then boom; the twist took me by surprise.
Rude boys indeed!

[Tom]

Indeed so Sami, and sadly endemic of youth culture these days.. Thanks my friend!! ☺

[Sami Khalil]

I agree wholeheartedly. You are welcome sir Tom

[Neville]

Hey Tom, having just re-visited your 'Fear of the Dark' I find myself even more captivated and a little in awe of your take on what is for some an undoubtedly 21st century experience. This write of yours is incredibly of the moment, alive and achingly real....Hoodies and mobile phones eh..........Reminds me of a subway experience I had on my way to.......................

[Tom]

Yes indeed Neville...where did good manners go ?? And thanks for your appreciative comments !!

[Neville]

My pleasure Tom

[Dream Weaver]

Isn't it a shame that common courtesy is wasted on the youth.
A wonderfully descripted stroll ruined by hi tech ignorance by
two hooded figures that call themselves human beings?

[Tom]

That's exactly the point and thanks again for your perceptive review!

[AllyWinters]

Walking in the dark is the best! This is a very descriptive piece, I enjoyed it so. Love the ending

[Tom]

Indeed, thank you AllyWinters !

[Lyn Anderson]

This I loved. The opposite of me I suppose, sneak up on you and whack you over the head - you like to make us think you'll do that, and then whew! it's over. Very clever.

[Tom]

Thank you kindly KL for your welcome visit!

[TL Boehm]

Wonderful little story observation of current life - what really impressed me is how mechanically adept you are with words - had I not honed in on them I would not have registered this was a rhyming poem. You wrote it so naturally-well done

[Tom]

Your words do humble me TL and thank you for such a flattering review !

[Neville]

Hey Tom,

I thoroughly enjoyed 'Fear of the Dark' it conjured up all manner of images and made me decide to leave the wellies by the back door, double lock it and stick my old slippers on... I wholly agree with some of my reviewing predecessors and think that you could make something much more of this. That by the way was meant to be complimentary.... All Good Things,

Neville

[Tom]

Thank you Neville for your visit and insightful, welcome review !

[Neville]

Hey the pleasure is all mine my friend. AGT's N

[emmajoy]

This would make a wonderful story plus moral for Hallowe'en or whenever! You had me walking alongside you, wondering at the eerie wander through history, cawing crows and banshee's cry and all .. and then, THEN, In that dark, dark land you have that common sight of youngesters with a wretched mobile phone! Gothic thought magics into modern manners! Clever stuff.

[Tom]

Thank you so much Emma Joy, indeed the curse of mobile phones ! Good material for a Hammer Horror film if they ever decide to produce again !!!

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

A serene walk with nature chiming in, however the human folk decide to totally blow you off for their cellular entertainment. The scary part is where is this world headed with these citizens in our future.

[Tom]

Indeed my very own thoughts Josie & thank you for your insightful comments !

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

You are welcome and I enjoyed the perspective that I share with you here!