The scratch behind the record playing
Hear it on the radio?
That susurrus? What is it saying?
Is it your mind about to go?
The ragged chill running down your spine
On a most warm and sunny day
The nagging feeling in your mind
That takes the words you want to say
What’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows…
What’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows of the light…
What’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows…
What’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows of the night…
A sense when you walk in a room
That simply rubs you the wrong way
A sense of an impending doom
That turns the swiftest feet to clay
A little sense of something strange
That remote something not quite right
A sense that danger’s within range
That makes you turn on all the lights
What’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows…
What’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows of the light…
What’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows…
What’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows of the night…
A feeling raises your neck hairs
It’s one that shakes you through and through
The touch you feel, when no one’s there
That makes you wonder is it you?
The tap, the tap upon your pane
That starts to freak you to your core
The tap that’s more than simple rain
You’re on the fifty-second floor!
What’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows…
What’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows of the light…
What’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows…
What’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows of the night…
The creep who lives,
Across the hall
The one whose look makes your skin crawl
That tiny bug
Oh! Does it sting?!
You’re scared of every little thing!
The door that slams!
The glass that breaks!
The sudden loss of breaths you take!
The terrors!
Won’t just let you be!
What is the reason?
Can’t you see?
The only thing to fear
Is me!
Fear’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows…
Fear’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows of the light…
Fear’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows…
Fear’s in the shadows,
in the shadows,
in the shadows of the night…
===================
Raivenne-lations 
FDR’s old maxim certainly applies to all of us, everywhere, all times.
Fabulous!! Wow. I wish I had something more articulate to say about The Only Thing. It is a terrific read.
Gosh, I would hate to be scared of everything. What a miserable life to live. You captured it will with this.!
Thanks for sharing and thanks for visiting me.
Thanks Bob, Thingy & Daydreamertoo!
It’s all in your mind… it’s all in your mind… it’s all in your mind…
Really enjoyed this piece. The form is very well done. Love the chorus repetition. Really highlighted the refrains. Thanks for sharing:)
Love the flow–definitely know the feeling (paranoia hyperbole)
Thanks Fred and Wordcoaster.
“paranoia hyperbole” I like that!
It’s all in your mind… it’s all in your mind… it’s all in your mind…
Very powerful piece, made so by the refrain and its repetition. Love the beat of this poem, very rhythmic and strong, like the heart beat of some ancient beast, one that lucrks in said shadows. Beautiful.
The Lonely Recluse.
Ah Lonely, to quote Metallica…
“..it’s the beast under your bed, in your closet, in your head!”
Many thanks!
welcome back…
sorry for missing reading it.
eloquent piece, keep it up.
😉
This is a song..complete with refrain. I couldn’t decide as I read it whether it was a rock song or not. I chose to hear it that way and so had to read it twice to get its meaning as one has to listen to a song more than once to get the lyrics because the beat and melody made the first impression. Quite a feat in poetry without the music except that the words themselves make. Once I got to lyrics I found them compelling as well. It’s the story of living alone. When you’re very young and fresh from a family and also later when you’re not as sure of yourself, when the nest is empty and your spouse is gone, when there’s no one there to know if you’re alive at the end of the day. Well said. Thank you. Gay
Thanks Jingle!
Hi Gay,
Oooh, I never really considered this as a song. Funny you should say this considering I just quoted a part Metallica’s “Sandman” in a comment response. Now, that you’re planted that thought in my head, If it’s a rock song, then it has to be heavy metal – yeah!!! \m/ lol
I always sort of heard this in my head with a Vincent Price type delivery, complete with maniacal laughter at the end.
And yes, I wrote this on a very late and very rainy night, when I was very exhausted and very alone. I was freaking out over the common household (the ice maker) to the point I could do nothing but laugh at myself from the silliness of it.
It’s all in your mind… it’s all in your mind… it’s all in your mind…
Thanks!!!
I love the rhythm of this with repetitions what a spooky beautiful poem you’ve created =)
Thanks MLM!
haunting one indeed, love it.
Smiles.
🙂
a masterful write, very enjoyable.
🙂
Can feel the panic
This would be great set to music
I agree. It would be nice to hear it read aloud. Well done!
Seems I missed a few people – much thanks, Orange Tree, Morning, North Texas Haiku and Kay
well now…your repetition works really well to raise those hairs on the back of my neck and makes me want to check the shadows to make sure no one is there right now….brr….nice…the pacing of this as well accentuates that fear…
Now I have a writing studder, but you use repetition expertly. Very impressive piece of wrinting.
shadows….the dark… the repetition like a beating heart full of adrenaline…suffocating
Brian, Henry and Stu I give you my “Tap on the shoulder when no one is there” thanks! 😉
Oh yes, the fear of impending doom! And the shadows….you never know what lurks there for sur!e. The repetition heightened the fear
The repetition is terrifying. Great piece!
Thank you Mary and Therin, I’m glad you liked it, I’m glad you liked it. 😉
That impending sense of doom….a rare but harrowing feeling- like your heart is suddenly on the floor…nice detail here about what scares us and it does read like a song;)
Almost scary…very nice.
isn’t it interesting that we often fear the things we can’t see more than the things we see…well penned
Thanks KKKKaty and Claudia, no one can scare us half as much as we can scare ourselves.
I could almost hear that as a spooky song.
Spooky? I was thinking a low growling heavy metal personally — grins. Thanks Sabio.
DANG, girl! You’re spookin me, and I ain’t skeert a nuthin!
Uh huh. I’ll be along with your blankie and hot chocolate anon. 😀 Thanks Charles.
The refrain, and the repetition within it serve this poem very well indeed. 😉
Ultimately, the only thing to fear is me, those neglected and misunderstood corners of the mind. Befriend the fears and become whole.