Perched on its post to haunt the night air
Its stone cold structure
Lingers
In the midnight breeze

Leaves swirl and scatter when they see it
Trees wave their arms to warn anyone nearby
Rocks sit still --
If you don’t move it won’t find you.

The stare
Mesmerizes and
Hypnotizes
Its prey.
Like a Black Widow
Licking its lips and watching
As dinner lies helpless in a tangle of silk,
It hovers patiently.

You first notice the jagged edges.
The elbows that stay bent,
Ready to jump any minute.
Its ears attentive to the quietest whisper.
The brow, prominent,
Spine jutting out in every direction.
Powerful.
Fingers and hands excitedly tense,
Nails as long as beetle antennas.

Then the eyes.
They lure you in,
They sing to you softly.
Whispers of protection,
Clever words of comfort.

And,
Just when you let out a sigh of relief,
The concrete breaks,
Its talons latch on
And
Its eyes glow
Eerily
Like the full moon.