The Journey's Toll

A "Don't Turn Around" Challenge Entry

By Cindy CalderPublished 3 months ago • 1 min read

The feeling lingers like yesterday’s disturbing evening news

It creeps, undulating and moving along your spine, pulsating.

It permeates. The feeling sticks like it’s been adhered with glue.

You feel it. Someone in the shadows is watching…..and waiting.

You turn, peering over your shoulder to stare into the blackness

Seeing nothing. Feeling the enormity of a prevailing dawn of evil.

How close, you know, looms the encroaching, sinister starkness -

A lurking danger, grown of roots bestrewn of matter primeval.

Your heartbeat quickens and your steps move in rapid staccato;

Sweat fills your nape and brow, trickling in rivulets of prickly rain

All you see is the moon, a haunting dewy, red of a cheap Bordeaux,

Crimson colored waves, taunting, teasing, testing in acts undefined.

Until suddenly, it’s leaps upon you with a vengeance of force and intent

A rush of air leaves your lungs and a bleak gloom envelops your soul

As you begin the predetermined fall into your fated and final descent.

All thought dissipates but one: have you already paid the journey’s toll?

From Charleston SC - "I am still learning." Michelangelo

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