The Christmas Ghost
'Twas Christmas eve on night of old
as lonely windows rattled cold,
and windy spirits ran amok
to drown the midnight ring of clock.
Inside my home, beyond the grasp
of winter fingers icy clasp,
I slept inside my chair and snored
while out beyond the tempest roared.
A shock. Awake, and in my seat
I sensed the warmth in quick retreat
and prickly air and freezing fear
began to form a presence near.
Within the confines of the room
a glowing horror pierced the gloom,
and lit from an unearthly core
a human shape appeared before.
And suddenly the wind grew still
and silence joined the ghostly chill,
and then a sorrowed voice of woe
emitted from the spectral glow.
"For many miles I walked in vain,
the bearer of these chains of pain.
For many years I'll walk again
before I roaming cease.
For decades long I trod these halls,
the sorrowed comrade of these walls.
For decades long I'll leave footfalls
before I lie in peace."
Then as I trembled, stuck by fear
my quivered voice spoke up, "Why here?"
"Why come to me on Christmas night
and envelope this room with fright?"
"I come to warn you of your fate,
if you persist and don't abate
then these great links will be a trait
of yours to weigh you down.
And now I go and leave this thought,
for if by greed and lust be caught
then death for you is danger fraught
and in your sins you'll drown."
And with a flash of blinding light
the messenger was gone from sight,
and heat and life returned once more
to take its place just as before.
And outside dawn in splendid hue
was greeting Christmas day anew.
And glee returned and with a shrug
I uttered just one word, "Humbug".
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