Something evil lurking out there

 

Bench      Jamie Heiden

Here's a frightening poem by Charles Simic:

Something Evil Is Out There   by Charles Simic

 

That’s what the leaves are telling us tonight.

Hear them panic and then fall silent,

And though we strain our ears we hear nothing—

Which is even more terrifying than something.

 

Minutes seem to pass or whole lifetimes,

While we wait for it to show itself

This very moment, or surely the next?

As the trees rush to make us believe

 

Their branches knocking on the house

To be let in and then hesitating.

All those leaves falling quiet in unison

As if not wishing to add to our fear,

 

With something evil lurking out there

And drawing closer and closer to us.

The house dark and quiet as a mouse

If one had the nerve to stick around.