The Night Beast

The night draws down
Like a black velvet curtain.
Like a blanket of stars and dark
The night draws down.
 
The winged beast awakens
Like an earthquake in the night.
Like the heavy shift of mountains
The winged beast awakens.
 
The beast takes flight
Like the cold north wind.
Like a whirl of ice and death
The beast takes flight.
 
The sleeping children shiver
Like leaves in autumn.
Like apples ready to fall
The sleeping children shiver.
 
The lone victim flees
Like a deer in the wood.
Like a rabbit to its burrow
The lone victim flees.
 
The beast rends and tears
Like a knife through paper.
Like Death's ripping scythe
The beast rends and tears.
 
The beast feeds.
The children sleep.
The nightmare is over for now.