...'there's someone in the wardrobe!'
'ssssh go to sleep'
...'there it is again,
...i can hear them moving about'
'no you can't, nobodies there now go to sleep'
hiding in terror under my bedcovers
the bedroom i share with older brother Rod
i'm five years old
at the foot of my bed a big tall old wardrobe
piled 2 feet deep with toy junk
above that nothing till the single rail at the top
where a few old wire coat hangers languish
...'there is, there is' i whisper now,
quite terrified
there are those clanging noises again
from that spooky old dark and towering wardrobe
'ssssh, you're dreaming, hearing things'
silence, ... trembling minutes pass
was I dreaming it?.. i don't like being afraid
maybe it was a bad dream
think about nice things
Pauline is nice but she plays with dolls
sleepy Pauline thoughts ..... dozing
CLAAANGG CLAAAANG CLUNK
there it is again not a bad dream
now in sheer terror i leap out of bed
running for the door to the safety of mum
but what the....
something catches my ankle and snaps
terrible clanking and snapping noises
coming from the wardrobe
...'SCREEEAMMMMMMMMM'
the wardrobe door comes flying open
I'm gone out of that room like a bat out of hell
screaming and crying out
...'MUMMEEEEE' at the top of my voice
Rod's calling out 'shut up! come back!'
but no, mum's come to the rescue to save me
jumping into motherly hugs i cry,
...'there's a man in the wardrobe'
'no no, there can't be, you've been dreaming'
...'but there is, there is, i heard it
and they opened the door to get me'
'calm down, there's nobody there
come on, lets go and see'
...'no no, i don't want to'
'look, there's nobody here
but,.... whats this?'
mum has something in her hands
backing away from the wardrobe
what is it... she's lifting something into the air
now on all fours she's searching
...'mummy what is it?'
'ssssh... there's a fine string like thing'
...'i don't like it'
'Roddy what's this?'
mum has turned on the light
she's holding up a length of....
.....its see through fishing line
leading from Rod's pillow to....
.....to where i tripped on it and snapped it
when i ran to the door
'what have you been up to?'
Rod's pretending to be asleep
'Your brother has been frightening you
look at this fishing line
it was tied to the old coat hangers
leading from there and under your bed
to his pillow so he can tug on it,
each tug causes the hangers to clang'
...'but the door opened'
'yes, you tripped on it and just before it snapped
it pulled the hangers down and the door opened'
'now get back into bed
i'll bring you a glass of warm milk
i shall deal with your brother in the morning'
-
Author:
dusk arising (
Offline) - Published: July 22nd, 2018 02:26
- Comment from author about the poem: Not poetry perhaps but a true story nonetheless.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 31
Offline)
Comments5
Siblings can be so annoying. Very good write.
Yep, this one continued to be annoying but sadly is no longer with us.
Such a shame, may he be at peace.
Fantastic, i could really feel the younger you and how one persons fun is anothers nightmare. Or maybe that is my childhood but nevertheless thank you for sharing this memorie my friend.
To me this is what art or poetry is, expression of one's truth and soul.
Aptly described by you as my nightmare. Made me tougher than kids my age though.
I guess that's it, some of us start out harding and have to learn to be gentle,while some start out gently and have to learn to be tougher.
Super work - reminds me of my sister who I love to bits but so annoying when we were young
I used to get my own back when he was older and in company, i'd tell his friends/girlfriends what a meanie he used to be much to his embarrassment.
Lol. I was the younger cousin and always was told things make me not follow the older ones. Like there's a scarecrow in the barn do not go in there. I always wondered why they went. Lol. I was not too smart then. Now, I know what they were doing. Things they did not want little eyes with big mouths to see. Great share.
Life was oh so simple then and we ran from joy to fear and back without much harm. Childhood is a yo-yo of emotions. I have thought of this story many times and it always makes me smile. I dont know where he got the idea from. Thanks Heart, nice comments.
Your very welcome.
Nice bit o prose & a darn good play on words too.......
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