The Ways Of The Night
I am a creature of the night.
Causing fear, I must stay out of sight.
I am a dreadful looking beast.
Born this way, it will never cease.
I only come out when it is dark.
Dark clothes & a hoodie. I am smart.
I cause fear, then a rage in others.
I must remain alone. Not my druthers.
When quite young my guard got lax.
Several punks jumped my back.
They got me down & poured gas on me.
They lit me up like a torch to see.
I screamed & ran, going insane from pain.
I tried to outrun the flames.
I blindly ran into the river.
The flames went out as I shivered.
I had started to go under fast.
I thought this would be my last.
Then one like me was pulling me in.
He pulled me out & took me with him.
He had a place way under the city.
Him & his father took care of me.
It was touch & go for a long time.
Only pain was on my mind.
Little by little I began to heal.
I was strong. I wanted to live & feel.
My scars were ugly, but I already was.
My hair grew back instead of fuzz.
The man who saved me was ugly too.
He had a good idea what I’d been through.
His father was also the same.
They stayed alive by playing my game.
They hated no one. They understood.
It was our looks that made us no good.
I lived with them many years.
There were many laughs & a few tears.
Then, the one I called grandfather, died.
Father was devastated. Be strong. He tried.
Later, my father was caught by hoods.
My father knew they were up to no good.
They killed him by beating him with clubs.
I dearly miss all of his hugs.
I am alone as I walk the night.
Any flame gives me a real fright.
I make sure no one ever sees me.
I want to stay alive & remain free.
—————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2016)