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....

[EliLies]

Blissful. The words are sort of flowing. I can read this over and over again, and still adore it. Clever it is, my friend.

[Michelle Long]

Quite clever, indeed.
It's not often you find a piece quite like this one;
the story behind it is different-you fall into it and experience it.
Very beautiful,=]