Night fell in flakes on the earth
enclosed me with its dark wings
on my alley obscure and lonely
filled me with horrifying terrors
of ill angles lurking behind poplars
fear conjured up by old fairy-tales
pulsating rustle of blood in my ears
my heart palpitating up my throat

Heading home, homeward bound
running fast, in fear indefinite
tearing my sledge behind me, fast
stumbling, falling, falling, stumbling
afar first lights in between the dark
honey yellow lights of our little town
of narrow streets and narrow minds
but finally … catching up my breath

safe.

And all the wonderful
and all the terrifying
and all the mystifying
and all the fairy-tale

excitement

gone.

Oh!