Nights of Storm and Stone
#21 of Poems
Another poem for my poetry book. This one about gargoyles and there an added Doctor Who reference at the end!
Do you hear the whispers of the night? The scraping of stone against the pavement even as the sound of rain falls heavily on your ears?
Even the booming thunder cannot mask the sounds of pursuit as you flee through the twisting alleyways of a dark and dank city.
Monoliths tower overhead. Buildings of stone carved over the years into works of precious art.
Guarded by statues of stone beasts who guide the falling rains away to their proper places.
Lions with their mouths open in silent roars.
Dragons with wings spread as if they will soon take off in flight.
Griffins rule as kings over the silent array of stone guardians set before them.
Tigers and wolves calmly posed as fountains to delight the hearts of those who pass by.
Silent observers to the wickedness and evil of man.
For only a criminal would risk going out at night during the heavy storms that plague the land.
Only person with something to hide would sneak about in the dark corners while thunder and lightning clashes in war over their heads.
Do you hear them?
The statues now come to life?
Stalking through the streets?
Their footsteps masked by the rain but not hidden by it entirely?
Can you feel their unwavering gaze as it slides up and down your spine?
A creature of stone knows no fear and feels nothing but patience.
It can wait as long as the rain pours for you to take that one misstep.
That single hesitation. That one moment of doubt that finally makes you turn around.
For the goodhearted rarely venture out during such times and those that do know to never, ever turn around.
But the wicked?
Oh the wicked cannot resist just the smallest look.
Is it the guilt in their hearts which strikes them suddenly?
Or sheer curiosity that makes them want to gaze back and see if the rumors of stone guardians wandering the streets during the storms are really true?
The good know to stand still. To close their eyes and wait until the great beasts of stone pass. Their movement forever hidden from the eyes of men.
Wicked are the ones who turn to look and then to stare in horror at the instruments of their destruction.
Gaze with sickening dread upon the gargoyles of stone who silently serve the cities needs during the day, but come alive at night during the storms to punish those who would sneak around with evil intent in their hearts.
Stare into stone eyes that feel no malice. No hatred or anger. Only silent unquestioning patience.
For if they do not manage to capture you tonight then they will return to their perch.
Funneling the rains away and creating fountains the delight the children.
They will wait for the next night of storms to come.
And then they will roam the streets again. Hunting down the one who thought they could escape the guardians of stone.
So when the gargoyles lay their eyes on you at night...
...whatever you do...
...wherever you go...
...whatever happens...
Don't blink.