Auntie Jane's Unfinished Story

The Attic

It’s creepy. It’s eerie

It’s full of knick knacks

Throwaways most of them

Auntie Jane was such a darling

‘none to be disposed of, you hear me’?

Was it an order or a desperate plea

Never had the chance to know for sure

She passed on and nobody dared

and nobody tried

The old tennis racket, its guts snapped

The broken frame stood its ground

Uncle Joe’s tool box, atop his soiled overalls, smeared

Nothing’s changed, nothing’s disturbed

John, had not ventured in for decades

He did not want to be surprised at finding something weird

Alice his sister though closer to their mother was all jitters talking about it

‘I want to see what’s in there but dear mother stopped us’

Was it a mere excuse or was it untold fright

Heard say there were skeletons inside

Long ago Uncle Joe’s farm-hand, Jack , apparently defied the odds

The moment he stepped in he threw up gave a loud squeal and dead he dropped

Thereafter, no one dared venture in

It was left, dark, drab, and cold within

But I’m one not fearful of ghosts though , I’m just curious

What’s inside I must see, yes , the day is today

Not a second longer, it is now

‘Hear ye apparitions, I’m coming in, I’ve made a vow

Neither hell, fire nor high water is going to stop me’

I’ve made up my mind come what may

This is it, I’m slowly making my way,

Up the rickety steps, of old wooden planks

That creaked under my weight

I’m now at the door, I dusted the knob

turned it, nothing happened

Needs another stronger twist I imagine

Stronger this time and,

‘ Wham!’

All hell broke loose.

‘Who wrenched away at the door, huh?’

That’s awfully rude of you

Okay, you’re back from your graveyard shift

But have some consideration, please!

I was on to something

But you startled me from sleep

It could have developed into an interesting dream!

Submitted for Willow's Magpie 41 and Jingle's Poetry Potluck - Magic & Miracles