The Midnight Hour

The Midnight Hour

by Gabriel Magno © 2012

Upon my horse in the midnight hour, I smell the odor of sweet young flowers

The moon shines through the frozen trees, the wolf howls softly in the breeze

Familiar sounds surround my ears, the baby owl, the raven’s caw

My stallion slows, a stranger nears, could it be someone I once saw?

We stopped to greet and shook cold hands, I lit a fire, we exchanged tales

He spoke as if from foreign lands, I noticed long and sharpened nails

I asked him why he wore a cape, on such a cold and windy night

He sat in silence his mouth agape, two pointed teeth gave me a fright

"I must be going" I spoke and stood, and mounted fast my nervous mare

And as he rose it does one good, to ride as fast as one would dare

He quickly followed, my heart did race, in fear I fled this frightful fiend

Soon he caught me and held my face, below the surface of a stream

With all my strength and power within, I drew my dagger from my waist

And plunged it sure below his chin, and once again I rode in haste

But yet again the fiend did ride, as I rode into a dim lit cave

I hid in darkness as he cried, "I soon will put you in your grave"

I crawled and felt a wooden stake, from some old wheel that fell apart

And as he struck as would a snake, I plunged it deep into his heart

And now the fiend lies without motion, and soon will be out of my sight

My trusted mare with its devotion, has brought us home again tonight