My family moved to Maple Street
And that move we all thought was a treat
Our excitement was hard to restrain
As all the neighbors would learn our names.

My two brothers and my sister too
Would imagine things that we could do
All new neighborhoods present some charm
For a few young kids who mean no harm.

Our best adventures would find new routes
We explored it all leaving no doubts
The big back yards of our neighbors' homes
Would be our domain that we would roam!

And then one dark day my brother said
"Hey everyone just look up ahead!"
T'was an old house that stood all alone
And mailbox marked by skull and cross bones.

It was quite a sight for all to see
A haunted house with some dignity
Our imaginations would run free
As we thought who the owners might be!

The yard was covered by brush and shrubs
In one corner was an old rain tub
Two tall towers climbed the outer side
We thought a great place where we could hide!

We played hide and seek to have some fun
Around the house you could see us run
We could hide so very perfectly
'Til you heard all-e-all come in free!

We played tag and hung on a rope swing
And in that yard we did everything
The day would pass as the sun went down
An eerie chill took hold all around.

We started to think we should go home
And we checked with Mom on our cell phone
She said you know dinner is ready
So hurry home and make it steady

We gathered our things and looked around
All turned quiet you could hear no sound
A misty smoke rose over the porch
In the tower was a lighted torch

We were shocked to see all these signs now
We thought the house was vacant somehow
Yet a man appeared in the doorway
We listened to what he had to say!

"It is so good to see you all play
I wish you didn't go, won't you stay?"
We looked at each other in surprise
I saw something glisten in his eyes!

He was a lonely old man no doubt
As he turned his head to look about
He lifted his cane to point at me
As smoke swirled about below his knees!

The chill of that moment caught me cold
And goosebumps rose on my skin so bold
"We have to go as our mother said
To have some dinner and go to bed!"

He bowed his head as we were leaving
I turned around with some misgiving
To see him fade in his dark doorway
"We'll all come again to play some day!"

He raised his cane and went out of sight
I thought about him throughout the night.
At dinner we told Mom the story
Her expression showed signs of worry!

She looked at us and showed more concern
And said that we had a lot to learn
That old man has been dead three years now
It just doesn't seem possible somehow!

You let your imagination run
While you were out having too much fun
No one else has lived there for some time
Just remember trespassing's a crime!

You finished your dinner now off to bed
are the words of wisdom that she said
Our blankets were folded in layers
as we all knelt to say our prayers.

We said, now I lay me down to sleep
and I pray the Lord my soul to keep!
God bless my Mommy and Daddy too,
and that old man we saw was true !