Something Evil Is Out There
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.
____________________________________________
From Come Closer and Listen, by Charles Simic, courtesy Ecco. Copyright 2019, Charles Simic.
