Tuesday 1 August 2023

THE CACKLE

THE CACKLE

A cackle
In the quiet
Dark
Startled
Me awake...

I jolted
And sat
Right up
Sweat
Pouring down
My back!

For a flashlight 
I gropped
Managing
Only to
Find
My phone...

I looked
At the
Time on it
Three in
The morning. 

I shivered...

The cackle
Sounded 
Again
And I nearly 
Fainted!

Turning on
The phone 
Flashlight 
I beamed 
It around me...

Nothing!

Scrambling
Out of
Bed
I slipped out
The door
Into the hallway...

The cackling
Got louder!

At every
Moment I steeled
Myself
To confront
The ghost...

Then I reached
The kitchen
And
Reaching a hand
Out
Switched
On the light...

There, in the
Cage
My parrot
Cackled again
Seeing 
Itself on
A shiny
Knife's reflection!

You,
I spoke
In relief
You woke me
In a fright
Thinking
I was 
Hearing
A ghost
Cackling!

It looked at
Me
Contrite.
I cackled
At it
All 
As I returned
To bed
And once 
More
Began
To
Snore
Like moments
Before!

Next morn'
I moved the
Knives
Out
Of the
Parrots
Line of sight
And never
Heard
The cackle
At three
Again!

      FREDERIKA MENEZES 


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