The Stroke of Eight

Be very aware of your fate, it could just end at the stroke of eight.

A knock at my door, I awake curiously.

The peephole lies, but what do I see?

A man in uniform proclaims my fate.

“You will die at the stroke of eight.”

“Nonsense!” I yell and return to bed.

But I cannot blink what the man has said.

To believe him is foolish; to trust is mad.

But still I wonder, what if I had?

 

Eight A.M. comes and goes.

No company, no family, no friend nor foe.

I wait each hour, dreading eight.

I begin protecting by locking my gate.

My windows, my garage, my very front door.

All is secure, unless he arises from my floor.

The telephone sounds, an unexpected call.

“Be careful maim, you just might fall!”

 

A breath, a click, a tone.

I cannot move; I am chilled to the bone.

He has the same voice as the mysterious man.

How to prevent this, does he think I can?

I shake it off, just for the night.

I know I won’t go without a fight.

If anything happened, I am sure I’d wake.

But I’ll stay up just for his sake.

 

Alas, I drift off, soundless in sleep.

The man enters my house, not murmuring a peep.

When I stir, it seems I am up very high.

The man says something behind a deep sigh.

I roll on my back just to feel the edge.

The only thing I can wish for now is a bush or hedge.

Sadly, what awaits me is the cement driveway.

Now I remember what he initially had to say.

 

In order to fall, I would need a shove.

Gladly he grants it, watching my death from above.

Splatter and crunch, my body deforms.

But free I am, I am finally reborn.

Be aware of men at your door.

They could be your killer, or just a bore.

But always be curious when it’s getting late.

They might just say, “You will die at the stroke of eight.”

 

Author's Note

I wrote this two years ago, and re-reading it, thought it was still clever.

Reviews

[barricade]

Clever indeed...highly intriguing...loved reading this spooky lil tale of yours...! had those chills of a classic horror...runnin up and down my spine with each word that followed...the imagery was fantastic! gripping the reader from the title itself!

great work girl...!!!! keep it up!!!

regards
barricade....

[Flo_writer]

I don't want to say "clever" here because it's been used already. But this was definitely "cunning" is the word I chose to use. This was very refreshing for me. It's one of those poetic stories that comes along and hits you with something new when you feel like you've been stuck reading the same stories and creativeness from different authors. A refreshing blast of creativity that i needed. Thank you.

[Kelley]

That was awesome !!! I love it and it kind of had a Poe feel to it.
Now I'm not ever going to answer the door ever again......lol
Great write thanks for sharing.

Kelley

[DiggeyEleven]

That story was awesome, and to think you wrote it 2 years ago, I can't even imagine how much better you can be in another 2. It was suspenseful, it grabbed me from the very beginning, how much we're you influenced by Poe? I could see the entire story painted in my mind. I loved it! I'm still getting off the high :)

[Jim Clarke]

It is still clever. Grim, but clever. It is odd how subjects like murder and death can bring put our creative energies.

[David Lewis Paget]

A kooky little story that has a strange attraction about it. More like a nightmare than an event, but certainly different.

[Freder Fredersen (aka G..]

Nice spooky poetry. Had classic feel to it. Awesome!
Cheers!
FF

[Tina Kline]

I really liket his. It gives me the chills. Very good!

[Tony Rivera]

Wow its interesting, and very catching, and I shouldnt be reading it because im in the middle of class,heh.

[Rachel]

Ooh, I like this! But in the third stanza, I would change it to just "chilled to the bone", taking out the "I am". Great!