Behind The Page

Just behind this page
lurks the monster.

If you listen very hard,
you can almost hear
the scratch of his claws
and his leathery wingtips
trailing through the dust.

The paper may lift and fall
slightly, with the breeze
of his dervish whirl, as he
spins out dread fantasies in the
flapping dance of the insane.

The glee is almost tangible
as he thinks of mashing up
children to season the stew,
or pulling the legs off
small puppy dogs, and flies.

You might imagine a sigh
as he considers his fate,
trapped here behind the paper,
but as you turn the leaf and
free him, he will not stop
to grace your ears with his
midnight howl of relief.

Added @ 02:02 PM to Poetry category on August 27, 1999