Fear ala Edgar Allen Poe

*This post is being submitted for Scribbit's Write-Away contest. This month's theme is: Fear.


Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over all the fears that make me tremble to my core.
(I thought of wars, I pondered needles and those freaky little beetles,
that I hear will nearly always crawl by hundreds on the floor.)
While I nodded nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis my dear daughter," I muttered, "tapping my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more."

But now my mind was fretting, that some bed she might be wetting,
And I thought of all the laundry that this tapping might produce.
With a sigh, and no relief, from my husband fast asleep
I rose and got my robe on--here I opened wide the door; --
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams every mother's dreamed before;
Was someone in bed reeling? To the hospital I'll be fleeing?
I trembled at thought of blood or vomit on the floor.
I listened in the darkness for a cry, or quiet implore
Only darkness, and nothing more.

Now my mind was racing and the floor I now was pacing,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
My heart was turning, turning, all my soul within me burning--
And the thought, most dis concerning was of a stranger at my door
With my dear ones flying, crying, "Nevermore!" "Nevermore!"

So, while running to their bedroom, trying not to think of "redrum"
I tripped and fell on something in the hall.
'Twas a little motor tractor, whose batteries were a factor
in the poor thing tapping, rapping up against my chamber wall.
This! The very gentle tapping that I heard upon my door,
A Fischer Price toy tractor, only this and nothing more.

Now, quite certain of my error and relieved to say the least,
I went still to find my children sleeping soundly and in peace.
But, sleep, for me was futile as I pondered for a long while
Of my greatest fear, beyond the wars and bugs.
I went again into the darkness to those children I adore,
I'm reminded how I love them now and will forevermore.


This post was written for Chocolate on my Cranium's Wordfull Wednesday.
The topic was: Your worst fear.