the floorboards scream
as the echos
bounce their woeful mourn
way up through the rafters
my feet try to tread lightly
it's an old place
a dark place
plenty of history
the years measured in cobwebs
and the intensity
of the stench
of a home long since abandoned
all cold now
on such a crisp autumn day
as brittle red and orange leaves
fly through broken windows
and land on the stained wooden planks
the floorboards of life
the foundation of death
i can see my breath now
as i muddle through
searching...always searching
for answers to questions
that most sane people stopped asking
a long time ago
a large black rat
screeches across the room
and hides behind tattered gray curtains
the furniture waterlogged
from the many storms
that snuck their way inside
so much lightning flashes
in a thunderous night
i have my little light
to bounce across the walls
at all the old paintings
of all the old people
with their big wet eyes
fixed upon me
i pull my coat in
just a little tighter
around my neck
as i shudder
i don't know
the whole story
only bits and pieces
are what remains
little electromagnetic
calling cards
tipping me off
to the intensity
of what might have been
on such a dark night
when the fireplace mantle
now so dusty and black
once lit up the whole room
with such a powerful glow
if i stand really still
i can hear the crying
of a little girl
and i can feel her little fingers
tugging at my hand
humming "come with me...
let me show you what they've done..."
sometimes in the dark corners
i can make out her form
playing with the bouncing light
trying to regain just an ounce
of a childhood
that was stolen from her
a long long time ago
there are others here too
though they don't speak
they just tower over me
breathing down my neck
smelling like stale smoke
in a burned out old parlour
the girl tries to hide from them
asking me to never tell
to never ever reveal
things best left unspoken
and i do just as she says
for i must protect her
for she was once my child
back when i was once actually alive
a luxury she lacks as well
now we just dance around
a forgotten old house
forever escaping the demons
and playing
catching just a glimmer of joy
somewhere just outside...
little patches of light
