Midnight Rose

Her restless sleep, interrupted,
she slowly drifted to awareness,
through rose tinted haze.
His voice seemed all too real,
as if the echo still hung
suspended
between dreams and reality.

She arose in a sudden chill,
seeing the sheer curtains move --
just a restless summer breeze.
She rushed to close the window,
found it closed;

the chill came again.

Through the sheer,
she saw him down in the yard,
looking up at her.
In full moonlight, she saw
the passion burning upon his face.
He reached upward,
his flowing cape billowing behind.
She ducked back in realization
that she'd been seen.
When she leaned forward again,
he was gone.

She rubbed her eyes,
aware that she must still be dreaming.

His voice came again,
"Yield!"

"Yield!"

His call was mocking,
echoing in the darkness....

She sat bolt upright,
swallowing her fright,
awake at last.

Or was she?

A whisper tickled her ear.

From her bed she lept,
a single bound,
fingers ready to claw.

The room was empty.
Upon her pillow
lay a single crimson rose.

Dallas D'Angelo-Gary 00