A Dark and Misty Night
It was a dark and misty night,
And swamp did bubble madly
In wait of they who come its way
And choose their footing badly,
In wait of they who come its way
Whom it can swallow gladly.
It was a dark and misty night,
And wind and trees did cackle
For thought of those within their boughs
Whom they could scratch and shackle,
Whom they could trap 'til thunder clap
Called forth the red-toothed jackal.
It was a dark and misty night
Which framed that forest scene,
And in each tree, lit up with glee,
Faceless eyes were seen.
Those points of light were but more bright
From darkness all between.
It was a dark and misty night
Which hid the beaten track,
Made pressing on more terrorsome
Than thoughts of turning back;
Made traveller's zeal of less appeal
Than thoughts of turning back.
It was a dark and misty night,
No night on which to roam,
And ghosts and ghouls gave such sick calls
I wished myself alone,
And every howl of wolf or owl
Seemed as a drowned man's moan.
It was a dark and misty night
Frost clad the ground in iron,
I closed my coat around my throat
Against the savage siren
Which howled in pain when it did wane
And waxed with roar of lion.
It was a dark and misty night
When came I to the glade,
And still I saw, behind, before,
But six thick feet of shade,
Then she who died became my guide
And lead me to her grave.
It was a dark and fearful sight,
My heart ordered me back:
A wooden cross consumed by moss
Which wore a nailed plaque,
Which when I kissed my lip did twist
'Til blood flowed free and black.
It was a dark and misty night
As I rushed from that place,
And dark nor mist nor hand I kisst
Could hide my bleeding face.
The stench of blood my nose did flood
And set my heart to race.
It was a dark and misty night
And my blood came out black
As I struck on through mist and gloom
To reach the sexton's shack,
With all my mind all but resigned
To imminent attack.
It was a dark and misty night
Which gave that hut its terror,
For in the sun ofttimes I'd come
To knock upon its door,
But neither John nor anyone
Lay that night in its maw.
It was a dark and misty night
As I entered in that place,
And each chess piece could find no peace,
But struggled in its place,
And I speak sooth, each was a tooth
In a black and white checked face.
It was a dark and misty night
Whose cold could wake the dead,
With constant calls of ghosts and ghouls
Which sicked my heart with dread,
And pick and spade hid in the shade
For chance to strike me dead.
It was a dark and misty night
When near my courage failed,
When bit with fear from toe to ear
My skin was fully paled,
But, too close then to leave again
Courage somehow prevailed.
It was a dark and misty night
Which could not hide the band
Of blessed light, so clear and bright,
So metallic and so grand,
Which showed me clear my goal was near
And waited but my hand!
It was a sweet, electric night
As I fled through the trees,
The fearsome calls of ghosts and ghouls
Cheers for my victories,
Though filled with dread my blood I'd shed
Still had I found my keys.