The Sound of Silence Now what has jolted me awake? What presence in the night, So suddenly expels my dreams And puts my sleep to flight? I flicked the light, it naught reveals No calming What! Or Who! The dial beside the bedside clock, Was showing ten past two. Some rustling of a shrub proclaims A change of weathers mood; I hope it doesn’t blow too hard; Annoyance will intrude.	2. Because a truant branch will sway, Against the window drift. (I must get Joe to trim that thing, When he comes home from shift). But now a chilling truth erupts, My very soul to freeze - The night is silent as a ghost, There isn’t any breeze. What utter creep is lurking there, Outside my window sill? What utter fear transcends the night, The darkened hours to fill. Then once I screamed: ‘Go, go away’, I screamed with all my might: Was that an answer that I heard? A chuckle in the night.
3. Oh dare I flee to neighbouring home, A half a mile away! No, such effort might be more unwise, Might leave me simpler prey. A click against the window pane, Near makes me swoon in fright. (‘Twas but a beetle struck the glass, Attracted by the light.) Two fearfilled hours have slowly passed, Then welcome break of day; I tiredly rise and open up, The brightening window bay. Some violent rustling in the shrub And then was put to flight, A homing pigeon which had strayed And nestled there at night.	4. Oh tears of rage, and then relief, My telltale cheeks bedew, I live once more that time of fear, The bird had put me through. But, this was not the unknown thing, That woke me with a start. Some other presence in the night Had made my sleep depart. Perplexed, I wandered down the hall, Then, suddenly I knew; The hallstand clock no longer ticked - The dial showed ten past two. Clarry Dunstan
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