Attic

There’s danger in the attic: it’s written on the wall
There’s danger in the attic, where nobody will play
There’s danger in the attic, and in the narrow hall
There’s danger in the attic, or so the children say
There’s danger in the attic, and it will not go away
There’s danger in the attic, that nobody can quell
There’s danger in the attic, quiescent in the day
There’s danger, say the children, and the children know it well

The grownups find the attic to be at best banal
The children all remember the screams of little Jay
Who wandered to the attic, and fell into its thrall
He trusted in the grownups — then shadows bade him stray
Then cast him out like wheat chaff — he never was the same
So now the children whisper of the fate that Jay befell
And nothing can console them, no words their fears allay
There’s danger, say the children, and the children know it well

They know the creaking corners where shadows gyre and sprawl
They know the vaulted ceilings where terror holds its sway
They know the lurching terror that grownups can’t recall
They know the slide to madness, their thoughts in disarray
They know the attic beckons, it calls and they obey
They know that there is madness that no-one can dispel
They know the danger waiting and face it with dismay
There’s danger, say the children, and the children know it well

There’s danger in the attic, that words cannot convey
There’s danger in the attic, the children’s whispers tell
There’s danger in the attic, and all is not okay
There’s danger, say the children, and the children know it well

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Form: Ballade
Prompt: NaPoMoFo Day 24