The Calling

When Art Paints with Words - A Series Written / Illustrated by Karan Talgeri

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You decide to take a walk 

To see a cold night off

But there it is, 

Looking straight back at you,

Towering immensely, its aura felt,

And you think, not yet, not tonight.

At its peak, an owlish apparition,

Eyes as windows to souls,

Night’s creature, uninvited, inviting,

Hypnotic, fright alight, gleaning,

Your call, it says, do drop by,

Answers to questions of wonder, you’ll find.

A day, two and three pass,

I stand still, only observing out the window,

To finally conjure up, 

The courage or perhaps a momentary thrill,

Tonight, it has to be, I tell myself,

The feet don’t resist, and suddenly I’m out the door now.

Jittery, jelly bones, mind - heavy and swerving,

Call it what you may, 

Standing here - few feet apart from the mansion,

No easy feat, I’d say,

Earlier towering from the distance, now gigantic,

Unending, okay it’s now or never!

Nervous running now, energies on high,

Up steps, only forward, time fleeting,

Hand turned to fist, elbow all in, 

Arm into the door I, remember “inviting?”

The door, a mouth now,

Swallows me in instead, welcoming!

Rapid glimpses as I spiral,

Not owl, worshippers - a witch?

Not windows, only screams,

Not mansion, home-walker, with legs to travel,

Not aura, heavy…  burdensome lives,

Mind mine, Body not.

Hear me, maybe you will,

My screams from atop,

My body, the mascot below,

Doors always open, gate’s ajar,

Walk in now, won’t you?

Yes, the time - your time has come, Now.