If You Were There
Jan 9 2003
By Nancy Price


My sneakers scrape the gravel path
Rustling leaves. Night creatures stir.
Something happens as I pass
the vacant mansion. Yes I'm sure

It must be empty. Creepy mansion.
No one leaves or enters here.
But its presence gives me tension -
maybe just a little fear.

Anyway, the thing that happens
as the dark wind whispers by
is that I catch a glimpse of something
from the corner of my eye.

Something black and sneaky, small
and silent on the dewy grass
tiptoes by me, quickly like a
flying night bird, as I pass.

The trees above me hardly notice - 
no reaction from their boughs
and I watch to see the creature
show his face. I make some vows

to just be decent, good and pure
if only I get out alright.
I look into the bushes then
but blackness penetrates my sight.

The evil creature disappeared!
It vanished in a whisp of air.
or maybe I was tricked and it
was never even really there.

I keep on walking to my home
and I survive the chilling night.
My lover makes a fool of me
when I reveal my tale of fright.

"Was just a cat" I'm plainly told
so sceptically in disbelief.
"If you were there" I argue back
"you would be sick with fear and grief

It wouldn't be so easy then
to shrug this off without a care.
You'd know for sure that ghosts exist
and specters haunt, if you were there."