Shadow House

 
Most current version:
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Outwardly passable, this house
has known better years—
seen more visitors
and much fairer weather.

The Cimmerian presence
is pernicious. Even pestilential.
It waits in the caliginous corridor
on the upper floor. The room

where they do the ECT.
Ashen hues at hallway's end
on architectural sconces long
in disrepair—I stare down
the length of that hall. Sight

narrows. My pupils constrict.
From here, all warnings forgotten,
all is dark except for the pale
yellow at the passageway's end.

After a time, I back down the stairs
thinking of my constant failure
to touch the end of things, my life.
But there's always next time.  



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outwardly passable this house
has known better years
seen more visitors
in fairer weather

a Cimmerian presence
pernicious...even pestilential
waits in the caliginous corridor
on the upper floor.

ashen hues at hallway's end
sconces long in disrepair
I stare down its length
...my sight narrows

pupils constrict... from here
all warnings forgot
all is dark...save the
pale hue at passageway's end.

after a time, I back down the stairs
thinking of my constant failure
to touch the end up close...
there's always tomorrow