After 3 long years I have finally finished this poem!

It was many a year ago

And even longer still,

In this lighthouse by the shore,

That I was sure I heard a noise,

A scream at my chamber door.

 

At that moment my soul grew weary,

My spirit naught but ash

Which had carcassed and fell upon the floor.

And my shadow still,

Which Surpassed me

Long ago in the forsaken days

Of Yore.

 

At that moment in my heart

There was a certain burning

Soon there became a 

Constant Yearning

A desire that I had long

Forgot about before.

A series of utter bedlam

Which had never frightened me before.

 

Moments passed

With no mere word

Which was spoken

Though remained unheard.

 

As I kept to myself

Upon my many books of lore

As their voices broke the

Untaimed silence

And fell upon my ****** ear

 

"Shall I intrude

This proven evil?

Is it man, or is it devil

Which made this deafening

Shrill upon my door?

Beast or human who so

Dared to leave his darkened

Shadow upon the floor?"

 

At my door

There came a sudden tapping

With many voices overlapping

The voice of those

Who had been dead and gone

Long before

Once a knock, nothing more.

 

As fear burned within my eyes

From my chair

I was yet to rise

presently here

and no further

My soul I could pertain no longer

My faith doubted by the

Very thing which stood

Behind my entrance door.

 

"Sir," said I. "Forgive me

If I seem mistreating

But the simple fact is

Entrance indeed you are

Entreating."

I stood there my heart ever beating.

 

"Late is the night

I have no room to borrow.

Though indeed

You may return tomorrow.

Surely your departure

I must implore.

 

I admit I have not remained

A well kept host,

I am a man not visited my most.

I have my doubts

And I became engrossed

When I was sure I heard you

Knocking at my chamber door."

Twas here had I opened the door.

 

Somewhere deep into that darkness, lurking,

Was a beast who stood emerging,

Demanding acknowledgement that I’ve never once gave before.

And with that reason,

In my heart I felt such treason

Such betrayal have I never felt more!

“Are you are you man or are you beast?

Are you coward, or are you least?

I demand you reveal yourself to me!”

 

Slowly, ever slowly

This visitor, rude and lowly,

Came into the light wholly presenting himself to me!

 

The Horror! The unspeakable truth!

Had I been such a fool in my own youth!

For I tell you in God’s own truth,

That child was me in my own youth!

Here I slammed the door!

 

 

And this creature, never speaking,

Is still entreating entrance at my chamber door,

And his eyes have seen all things

From demons jeering,

And the light above him dreading,

To cast even his shadow upon the floor.

For in life I’m caught in dreaming,

And the scream shall poison these dreams forevermore!