On this crisp, rainy October night, as I trampled my way through a maze of thick, tall cornstalks, I made a discovery.

A decaying structure with the bones of what was once, I’m sure, an opulent mansion from ages ago was crumbling on the slope. The hair on the nape of my neck rose as I witnessed pale, blurry faces peeking out through the pointed arched windows. Yet, I still felt compelled to enter.

The steel lantern post that stood at the entrance glowed, its sparks flickering and casting eerie shadows. I approached the mansion with guarded steps. My breath escaped in faint clouds in the chilled air. The caws of a murder of crows trailed over me in the pale moonlit sky. A crow perched on a barren tree in the yard, its dark eyes and beak reflecting the moon’s light.

I passed the iron gate, slapped by the sharp scent of decay, and an eerie phantom crossed my path. I climbed up the disintegrating steps. A grotesque gargoyle knocker met me on the thick, unhinged arched door. Then, I held my breath and pushed open the door. When I dared breathe, musty air accosted me inside.

Overhead, a dangling chandelier swayed and screeched. My body tensed. Creeping deeper into the mansion, I wiped aside cobwebs that clung to my face. My teeth chattered. Slanted shelves coated in a layer of dust held trinkets and cracked porcelain dolls, while a cracked standing mirror adorned the hall.

An eerie creak echoed through the corridor. As an antique chest snapped open, multiple shadows escaped. Then, a being emerged and slowly stepped out of the chest, wearing my face as it stared at me.

In the dim hall,
No barking
And no clawing on concrete.
With your chin buried in the pillow,
Staring blankly at the ceiling,
You were unaware your fate was sealed.

Gazing through the window,
Your shadow crept upon you,
There was no escape.

The sun ascended
And the oppressive heat hung in the air.
You stared through the window
And flinched.

The ticking of the clock,
Echoed in the hollow hall.
Then came the phone call.
They shipped you,
A thousand miles away from the smell of bleach
And cold bars.
You found a new home,
Wagged your tail,
Barked with delight
And tap-danced all day long.

When I called you,
You howled all night long.
Your soundtrack,
Oh, so loud.

Journeys spent on clawing challenging winding trails,
On steep mountains through endless rough barks,
With the salty sea breeze,
That cooled you with relief.

The sudden jolts of frantic speed,
A wide smile lit up your face.
And your stamping on the grass,
Your ears flopped.

Your brindle coat,
So soft,
Snuggling in the tangle of sheets.

A sneaky scavenger!
Chewed phones and flops,
So intrusive,
We laughed along.

The sea,
So fearful.
In time,
A wave of joy washed over you.
You uncovered rocks and shells
And dragged them to the shore.

Your face painted white,
Gray streaks marked your brindle coat.
The staircase,
The labored breaths
And your shadow cast on the wall,
Followed you along.
The stiff paws
And the painful sob that throttled your throat.

The heavy blanket embraced you,
Surrounded you with glittering stars,
You found a new home.

A powerful gust blew as the gray clouds hovered above the jagged peaks. On Sunset Trail Route 6 in Stoneway, a black SUV thundered. Hovering above the road, eagles soared and black seagulls perched on the sagging wires overseeing the road.
Vickie was in the front passenger seat with a smile that lit up her face. Towering steeple churches, faded Victorian homes with white picket fences and century-old shops slid past her window.

Ahead, on the winding isolated coastal highway of New Inverness, Jack steered the wheel through rolling hills, dramatic sea cliffs and the rush of seething waves clashing against the boulders on the shore. Sea kayakers paddled along the intimidating granite drop.

The charcoal heights turned darker and grew steeper as the vehicle climbed up through the unbroken forest. The SUV’s roar overrode the silence as they distanced from civilization. Then, a silhouette loomed beside the lonely lifeless oak tree and tall rustling reeds. A cluster of crows seated on the dangling branches and let out a guttural croak altogether. Vickie’s spine tingled as she gazed at the dark shape’s blurry facial features. Jack’s eyes widened in the mirror and he slammed on the brakes. The tires screeched to a halt facing the silhouette standing beside the dead wood.

The Sunset Trail – Part 2

Legend speaks of spectral black dogs haunting the marshlands and villages of East Anglia for centuries, their eerie howls echoing through the night. They are a portal, a swirling vortex of shadows and darkness, a harbinger of impending doom.

People have spotted them at dusk, flitting near roads, bridges, crossroads, train tracks and cemeteries, their presence leaving witnesses in chilling silence after they vanish. The black dog’s deep, guttural howls, echoing through the night, filled the locals with dread. They described the creature as being the size of a Great Dane, or perhaps even a calf, standing three feet tall with a thick, shaggy coat the color of dried leaves, their eyes gleaming like embers in the dim light.

On my recent journey to the furthest point of Nova Scotia’s Meat Cove, where curious seals, impressive whales and diving seabirds animate the ocean.

Endless ridgeways and whispering trees

stretched to the lonely eternal valleys.

Soaring rugged mountains with blushing gravel

and verdant meadows settled eons ago,

surrounded the webbed maze of pathways.

The leaves rustled in the wind.

The midnight crows perched on the decaying willow tree

and cawed as their voices echoed,

signifying a milestone.

The clouds softened,

beliefs thickened.

The mist scattered,

lies dissipated to truth.

The rows of tombstones

and the stones that once composed the walls,

lay scattered and broken.

As I treaded the one-way path unaccompanied,

a stone house with a thatched roof rose,

a haven for creation.

The vistas of awe-inspiring eternal mountains,

the glittering sea breathing timelessly,

and the scent of everlasting sweet pine trees,

I felt a wave of contentment wash over me.

They had warned the locals

The clock was ticking.

When the wind whistled,

I rushed to the window,

And gazed at the shadows on the street

Which were cast by the uncanny street lamp.

The wind cursed,

The lights flickered.

The wind howled deafeningly,

Sparks flashed from the lines above,

And the lights died.

Midnight struck—approaching bedtime

The mad wind battered my home

I barreled upstairs,

And I hopped in my bed

In the oppressive darkness.

The torrential downpour pelted the steel roof and siding,

I gave ear to my heart, pounding aloud.

As I was lying down,

The lantern in the hall flickered

I could see through the second-story window in the shadowy hall,

The tall matchstick trees in my backyard dancing erratically,

Performing threatening contortions

I pulled my blanket up.

What was that noise?

I dashed to the window,

And my eyes peeled

Uprooted trees full of wisdom laid across the sidewalk

I never witnessed mother nature so upset.

The utility wires waved, snapped,

And whipped the damaged properties mercilessly

More clusters of distorted trees tilted and collapsed helplessly

Agonized souls stormed out of their dwellings,

With eyes raining

My face dropped,

As I watched with terror.

The wind cried,

I jumped back in bed

The floor and walls shook,

The Gods grew angrier than ever

The foundations rattled,

And my teeth chattered

As I feared the unknown.

Turned a blind eye

To wildfires, floods, and plagues.

Turned a deaf ear

To prophecies.

I knew the malevolent force would destroy the oasis that had once surrounded me

On this timeless night.

Illustration by Art Young

The wilting mortal drew close

to the soaring sanctuary that pulsed

among the infinite stars.

Youthful and cheerful,

the soul once swam with joy,

graceful and full of life.

Then, worn and torn, and sombrous,

the soul bathed in tears in oblivion,

scarred and chained at death’s door.

The wind howled,

the angels cried.

Voices from the darkness thundered,

the beast called.

A sea of hands rose from the black river.

They clamped and pulled the lifeless soul

to the gloomy horizon.