THE ATTIC
STEEP, NARROW CREAKING STEPS
LED TO AN EVER-DARKENING PASSAGE
EACH FOOTSTEP ANTICIPATED THE MYSTERIES
BEYOND THE SHADOWS THAT SEEMED TO BUMP INTO
THE COBWEBS, AND COLLIDE AGAINST THE STREAMS OF
DUST SEEN FLOATING IN THE STRIPS OF LIGHT.
THE MUSTY SMELLS COAXED ME AGAINST THE SENSES
TO ADVANCE UP THE PASSAGEWAY.
IMAGINATION BROUGHT ME TO THE PRECIPICE --
UNEASINESS AND FEELING OF MISGIVINGS TRIED TO HOLD ME BACK.
THE DOOR AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS GROANED AS IT WAS OPENED
FURTHER, THE NOISE GRATED AGAINST MY PSYCHE
AND THE ABSENCE OF OXYGEN CHOKED AND LET ME GASPING,
DEFYING THE SENSATIONS OF FEAR, COURAGE TRIUMPHED.
PAST STEAMER TRUNKS, DRAWERS LEFT ASKEWED,
DRESS MANNEQUIN, HAT BOXES STUFFED TO OVERFLOWING,
A ROCKING CHAIR WITH FADED PAINT ,
CHAIRS WITH SLATS AND CANE SEATING MISSING --
FALTERING, AS THE FLOOR PROTESTED AGAINST MY WEIGHT
I WENT DEEPER INTO THE SHADOWY DARK.
THEN BEFORE ME WAS A LOW HALF-DOOR WITH A LATCH
DARE I ANSWER THE BECKONING CALL I HEARD?
AS IF I WAS IN A DREAM I ENTERED --
CANDLELIGHT FILLED THE SMALL ROOM JEWELS AND STATUETTES,
DELICATE LACE DOILIES, OVER-STUFFED VELVET CHAIRS--
SUDDENLY I SAW A CHINA CUP SITTING ON A
CHERRY WOOD LAMP TABLE
WAS IT -- COULD IT BE -- IS THAT HOT STEAMY TEA?
I WASN'T ABOUT TO WAIT TO UNRAVEL ANY MYSTICAL SECRETS
I FLEW DOWN THE STAIRS LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL
SPEECHLESS, I SURPRESSED MY SCREAMS AND VOWED TO FORGET
MY ENCOUNTER WITH THE UNEXPLAINED.
Reason for writing:
I have had a recurring dream similar to the poem
I have written (THE ATTIC).
Birth sign: Not entered
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