within the ground the casket lies, its cover nailed shut;
the body that is found within is bound to wistful sleep.
the saturnine, cold atmosphere abodes and deeply cuts
as windy wells and bony shells of corpses softly, slowly creep.
tiptoe skeletons, click chick chack—
take one step forward, two steps back
the hearth of shivering, shrivelled oak is all that shields the graves.
macabre stone and pallid bone are all laid out in rows.
a simple prayer is said for all who rest now in the knaves,
but what goes on as midnight comes is spooky, trembling, no one knows.
in the mausoleum black—
take one step forward, three steps back
shrouded families and towns do gather here and weep.
those who have left the world above become food for the worm, decayed.
the clouds outstretch, and close to God to fearing mortals keep;
the dead, outspoken, under token or their lifeless mess make play.
tombstones move and coffins crack—
take one step forward, four steps back
the eerie lantern casts a ghastly glow upon the ground.
soon the crow and raven black will sound their diss’nant call.
for now the dead their graves do shed and helpless shrieks are drowned;
the church bells chime, it is high time to come inside now, one and all.
creeping ghosts come, click chick chack—
take one step closer, you won’t come back.
iamnotoldfashioned 