The island calls to me.
It whispers my name.
The bridge sighs.
It weeps for me.
I walk across.
It wobbles to and fro.
I hold tight to its ropes.
One step gives way
And then the next.
The sides unravel.
Time stands still.
I fall.
Icy water hits my face.
The silence surrounds me.
The house sits alone.
Shutters hang broken.
Furniture upended.
Shattered pictures.
Shattered dreams.
Open the door.
Climb the battered staircase.
A house ravaged by a storm.
A savage storm that hit only this house.
I hear a creak on the stairs.
A sigh from within the walls.
A cry from the basement.
They’re back.
THE DEAD GAME
The water flows smooth
through a quiet town.
Bedtime draws near.
Soon dreams will filter
through the cool breeze.
The bridge gives a sigh
before settling for the night.
SWEPT AWAY
Lights twinkle on the horizon.
A horizon tinted pink by the night.
I walk past the mosaic trimmed pool.
A trade wind follows me.
I’m being swept away.
By the view.
By the lights.
By the beauty.
A contented sigh drifts on the wind.
RIDE THE TRAIN
I ride the train each day.
For this, I need to pay?
No seat I can see.
Never is one free.
I hang from the strap above.
A soft sigh feels like a dove.
I turn my head to the side.
And do you know what I find?
A girl standing next to me.
One as pretty as can be.
She offers a small smile.
Now I could walk a mile.
I stand up taller than before.
I am now ten feet off the floor.
A slight smile before she departs.
I’m left happy as my day starts.
“Open the door and
Step inside.
The darkness beckons to you.
Welcome!”
The wind sighs its plaintive plea.
Cold air swooshes past my face.
“Do you hear the music?
A party is waiting for you in the drawing room.
Don’t be afraid.
Peek in.
Can you see the dancers?
Twirling around and around.
You can see through them?
Can’t you?
That’s because they’re transparent,
An echo from the distant past.
Those who lived here before
Who now inhabit this old house.”
A gowned figure of a woman turns to me.
The flesh slowly shrivels from her body,
Leaving behind a skeleton of bones.
She cackles, “You can now join us.”
Her hand reaches for me.
I turn to flee.
The windows and doors snap shut.
I jiggle the door handle.
Locked.
Trapped in the deep recesses
of my mind.
No escape.
Take the time.
Stop.
Watch.
Listen.
Breathe.
Sigh.
Epiphanie © Etienne Cabran
It’s here.
Too near.
A mist of white.
A sigh of night.
Through the window.
“You friend or foe?”
A cold touch of ice.
Doesn’t feel too nice.
It now whispers away,
“You’re not welcome to stay.”
I’m leaving now.
I don’t care how.
Fingers wrap around my neck.
On my cheek I feel a peck.
Could that be a kiss?
Wasn’t hard to miss.
I’m chilled to the bone.
I’ve turned to cold stone.
KILL ME
A walk through the woods
On a sunny afternoon.
What could go wrong?
I am alone.
It is growing darker.
The wind begins to sigh and moan.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
The leaves of the tall trees are rustling.
Their rustling sounds grow louder.
Are the trees moving on their own?
The trees are coming alive!
Alive with The Dead.
Just kill me now.
THE DEAD GAME
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DEAR STATUE
So alive.
I could hear you breathing.
Is that a moan?
Maybe it was the wind.
Is that a rustle of clothing?
Maybe someone else is in the garden.
Is that a sigh?
I heard a sigh.
Are you tired of standing still?
Is that a tear on your cheek?
Your eyes look sad.
Reflecting a remorse so deep
that I can feel it.
What else do I feel?
A whisper of breath on my face.
Are you breathing, dear one?
Are you alive beneath the stone?
Raise your head.
Look me in the eye.
It’s time to be free.
Let your soul be free
and soar above on your wings.
Take flight, dear one.
Take flight.
SUSANNE LEIST 