It came from my periphery
with madness in its stare,
a roar like a pariah's scream
and blood matting its hair.

I only had a moment's fear
to raise a hopeless hand,
and watch the fingers bitten off
in spurts of sticky strands.

It crashed into my frozen form
and bore me to the ground,
then sucked my toes from off their bones
with succulence of sound.

I screamed at the uncaring moon
as teeth yanked off my knees
and claws stripped strings of muscle from
my thighs with vicious ease.

I'd only wanted Halloween
to entertain this night;
me and the dog across the park
had been the grand invite.

What manner of horrific thing
was gnawing at my bones
with razor fangs and Satan's grip
and growls in bloodlust tones?

Right then, my balls became a snack,
condemning thoughts to hide
behind a veil of agony.
My future children cried.

My consciousness shrank from the real
as sausages were munched
and dinner became supper for
the beast over me hunched.

I whimpered as it licked my heart
and wheezed when lungs were torn,
then laughed in wet hysteria
as lower jaw was shorn.

I hoped right then, as tongue met tongue,
with terrifying calm,
that death would take me finally
and dark would be my balm.

But treachery and horror's face
would be the last I'd see;
my dog, my Barney Labrador
had eaten me for tea.