In the Eve at Sunset

A monster came at sundown

every eve to terrorize

us all.

A mother with a child in

her arms was the most fearful

of the lot.

I was there to protect the

others, my stomach heaved with

doubt and dread.

It was no place for me, who

had left me commander of

this frail crowd?

I wanted no part of it.

I  shrank in fear, paralyzed

and shocked.

The sun descended, burning

red as qualms overtook us

everyone.

His brutal, ancient fury

close by  and the stench of his

angry breath.

A flinch swept our aggregate

but her tears and screams were a

threat to us all.

I knew the fear was not for her

but for her child. She drew a

sobbing breath.

The demon on our heels,

like mice trapped in the darkened,

rotting, house.

Her shrilling curdled his blood

and made his rage and wrath all

the worse.

In a moment he would break

down the door, quashing it to

loose debris.

I woke then and wondered who

I feared so much, who came at

sunset.

Who made me quake as if the

earth beneath me shook and reeled

each day?

I knew well it was me in

each desperate, panicked, cowering

fearful face.

The woman elected to

protect and mother with child

in tight embrace.

 LR