Don't Be Afraid Of The Basement

I know it’s dank and dark

eerie end quietly haunting

and everywhere you look

something’s lurking

but don’t be afraid of the basement.

Don’t be afraid

when the door hinges creek

the way the monsters scream

when wading through

your nightmares and dreams.

They are just door hinges

creaking,

old and dirty, covered in dust

and in need of a good cleaning.

Watch that first step now,

because the stairs are old,

wobblily and rickety,  

squeaking and making noises

that wake the things sleeping.

Don’t be afraid of the dust and the dirt

falling from the rafters overhead

covering you with spiders and fleas.

It’s just an old basement

full of old boxes and raggedy shirts.

Beware the shadows

reaching out from corners

hiding in darkness

long and bleeding.

It’s just an old basement

You can scare them away quick

with a simple flick

of the dirty light switch.

Leave the old lightbulb hanging

but careful if it begins swinging

casting light to shift and sway

throwing angler’s and shadows

causing the basement to breathe

dusty funk from the creatures stir

in the stink of dead ones rotting.

But never mind all that,

It’s just an old basement

stuffed with memorabilia

old boxes containing older remains.

They carry nothing dangerous

but swallow things hole

hiding stories that animate

from the tousled memories

the basement claims and keeps.

However, mind the teeth

when the bulb stops swaying

and the hinges scream

the mouth is closing.

With a click of the latch

and a spark of the furnace.

It gets hot in the basement

and it likes to cook its meat.