Night Game

There came a dark night, once, long, long ago,

When no moon could be seen, and the fire burned low.

From out of the forest, a scream could be heard.

�Twas a bone chilling sound, not of beast or of bird.

It came from a creature out hunting for blood,

And the thing wasn�t searching in the trees or the mud.

No, it was hunting for me; it had sniffed out my trail.

And it was sure of its victim, for it never did fail.

It would do me no good to grab a gun or a knife.

No, all I could do, was to flee for my life.

So I started to run, led by the bright Northern Star,

And prayed for God�s speed, for my haven was far.

The chase lasted hours, over hills and through streams.

As the creature drew closer, I could hear its wild screams.

The vines and the branches, they tore at my face,

Still I ran on unheeding, setting a murderous pace.

But the creature sped up, I could tell by the sound.

That my best was no good, for it flew o'er the ground.

With a growl like laughter, he closed in on me,

As I dodged and twisted �round each rock and each tree.

But I didn�t dare stop; for the price would be death,

And on the back of my neck, I could feel its hot breath.

But then came the time, I couldn�t run any more,

So I spun �round to face, what fate had in store.

I squared back my shoulders and tried to be brave,

For I knew what awaited; �twas my own, yawning grave.

The monster stepped out, of the forest so dark,

It laughed in my face, with a mad, horrid bark.

It had long, yellow fangs and a bloody, red eye,

And I knew what came next. It was my time to die.

It reached out a claw, and it pushed me to sit.

Laughing madly once more, he screamed, "Tag, you�re it!!!"

Michael D. David

August 21, 1996

A special thanks to Phantom Blue. �You know what you did.