The Old Red Rooster Crowed
















Demons came to her again,
in the ev'ning past midnight;
candles she left all aglow,
danced dark shadows on the wall.

Faded crinkled wallpaper,
brown with age and family dirt,
stared back at her through patches
that seemed alive and reaching.

Faded flowers, old green leaves
and stains from top to bottom,
jumped then slithered so quickly
they forced her to hide her head.

'Neath softness of eiderdown,
she held her breath deep and sighed;
then cried with relief at dawn
when the old red rooster crowed.

Scarce able to crawl from bed,
her feet hit the cold floor fast;
across the room she stumbled
headed for the fire downstairs.

Chilled to her very soul's quick,
she sat on the hearth and cried.
Would those nightly demons go
some day and leave her in peace?

"Til night when they'd come again,
she'd worry sick in her fear;
Naught that she tried ever worked
for in her room they remained.

She'd a little song she'd sing,
learned it when she was young;
"Please be gone, the night's too long,
leave me be to rest alone."

She'd been singing it for years,
but still her demons showed up;
Gnashing teeth and scraping claws,
always kept her from resting.

She wondered if they'd e'er leave,
or, forever plague her sleep?
Tonight she'd sing her song 'gain
and sleep right here by the fire.




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