In the twilight.
There is a rustling
in the standing corn.
It might be a deer or a fat raccoon
or maybe something else.
There is a splash
in the reeds
at the far end of the mill pond.
It might be a muskrat or an otter
or maybe something else.
There is a jingle
in the chain-link fence
behind the school.
It might be some kids
or maybe something else.
There is a rattling,
like a chain on metal
between the feed mill and the railroad tracks.
It might be the wind
or maybe something else.
There's a creak
in the basement
It might be just the house settling
or maybe something else.
I do not fear
the critters or the kids or the wind or the creaks.
It's the maybe that scares the crap out of me.
There's a light
passing by in the street outside.
It might be just a group of men
with torches and guns and whiskey.
I dearly hope it's something else.