Nevermind What's Behind You

Inside a childhood home of mine

there dwelt a presence undefined,

which roamed the hallways of the mind

and stayed just out of sight.

It mattered not if night or day,

the speed I walked or what I'd say,

that feeling wouldn't go away

until I got outside.

I tried to catch it in the act,

when first the goosebumps touched my back,

but, silently, in shadows black,

it snickered at my fright.

I dreaded that old feeling more

than any I had felt before,

it stretched the distance to the door,

and made for sleepless nights.

****

I'm older now and in my home

are lights as bright as any known,

but sometimes, when I'm all alone,

I walk a little faster.