Beastly Things

Some time ago
I woke to find
Myself alone
No other kind

Alone in dark
All-stretching pitch
Without a sound
Taste, scent, or itch

But come to know
I was not right
For others came
To give me fright

And fright they did
As they slunk through
The inky black
Without a hue

Quick-snapping beaks
Long, clinking claws
Sharp, curving horns
Slavering maws

Circled, circled
Round and around
Thin, yellow squints
Echoing pound

So I did run
Straight off from there
Wherever to
I did not care

And though I ran
They trailed near
Howls, yips, clicks
Made hard to hear

And tears, they streamed
From straining eyes
Did I past say
My last goodbyes?

Then prick of light
I saw ahead
Wavered weakly
But still not dead

Though weak of breath
And burning brawn
One last, long stretch
Towards the dawn

I hit the break
Of bright and dark
Fell forward on
The lighted mark

Glanced back to see
To my surprise
Into the light
They did not rise

I stared into
Those golden eyes
To find some sort
Of cold despise

Then one by one
They oozed away
Into the void
Where they did stay

Till' one was left
Who stared right to
The core of self
Shown very few

This stare was odd
For my eyes met
Tired orbs filled
With shamed regret

And in a blink
The stare was gone
With the torn face
It perched upon

Now I sit here
Lost in all thought
Of forlorn gaze
Filled with fraught

And realize
With deeper face
The truth of this
Terrible chase

These beastly things
If meant to fright
Why did they lead
Me to the light