monster next door

[typing mantis]

This morning feels exceptional,

each moment feels benign.

The innocence in the atmosphere

foretells of rare magic.

The sky, the birds, the treetops,

demand musical applause.

I feel an urge to please them,

so I whistle to comply.

Lost in this melodic trance,

my gaze drifts lazily down.

I let it follow a languid leaf,

as it spirals to the ground.

Rudely, here my eyes are met

with a most incongruous sight..

tearing through my tranquil thoughts,

were massive, jagged claws.

A mountainous grey and calloused beast,

with rusty daggers for its teeth,

sits in a crouch in a neighbour's lawn,

staring straight at the sun.

Deep lines run 'cross its stone hard face.

These lines speak of violence.

I imagine them filling and swelling with blood,

as sharp teeth pierce its prey.

Its sinuous limbs look merciless,

its tail is crowned with spikes.

Each atom of its countenance

is redolent with spite.

I am standing still, struck with awe,

wondering at its purpose.

When all at once its head tilts back,

its mouth opens wide.

My head fills with a thousand screams,
I am deafened, I cannot hear my thoughts,
reflexively, I start to run

to escape, or to die trying.

I turn the corner at the end of the street,

I jump into a bush to hide.

I am trying to breathe soundlessly,

I wish my heartbeat would subside.

I've counted to a thousand now,

there's still no sign of the creature..

Impatience is getting the better of me,

I want my verdict now!

Slowly, carefully, I rise to a stand,

and peak into my street.

The beast still sits the neighbour's lawn,

curled up in a sleep.