Assignment 11: Lena Ilagan SPOOPY

Okay, okay, here it goes. *shines flashlight underneath chin*

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I studied, weak and teary,
Over a textbook which was truly a bore--
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a crackling,
As of a simple fire burning, burning somewhere near the floor,
"'Tis just a trick," I muttered, "crackling somewhere near the floor--
Only this and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly, I remember the smell of a smoldering ember,
And the acrid scent of smoke rising to my nose from the floor,
Suddenly I had forgotten my sorrow; --for now I remembered the candle I borrowed
From my mother earlier that morrow-- whom I had received it with a brow furrowed
For she warned of the dangers within its waxy, fragrant core---
All of which I forgot forevermore.

And the silken silver wisps whistling from each orange flame
Rilled me-- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to do the thing that was smart, I began beating
At the flickering flames dancing about on my bedroom floor--
Beating with a fear and a fervor never seen before;
That I remember, and nothing more

Presently, my beatings grew stronger, the flames rising then higher no longer,
"God," said I, "Holy smokes, I thought I was about to burn the floor;
But the fact is I was crying, and so suddenly the flames came flying
But so faintly they came flying, burning away my bedroom floor,
That  I was scarce sure I smelt you--" Here then opened wide the door--
There standing was my mom, with eyes on the floor.

Deep into those eyes peering, long she stood there wondering, leering,
Doubting, thinking thoughts no mother ever thought before;
But the silence was unbroken, and with no word having yet been spoken,
And the only sound there I heard were the whispered words, "The floor!"
This she whispered, and turned her back, shutting behind her the door
Merely this and nothing more.