Nightfall

~~~

The Legend of Nightfall
by Mickey Zucker Reichert

A demon wakens with the night,
Reviling sun and all things bright.
Evil's friend and virtue's foe-
Darkness comes where Nightfall goes.

Eyes darker than the midnight shade,
Teeth sharper than the headsman's blade.
When he smiles a cold wind blows-
Darkness comes where Nightfall goes.

When shadows fall and sunlight breaks,
What Nightfall touches, Nightfall takes.
Lives and silver, maids in bows-
Darkness comes where Nightfall goes.

A demon cruel; a monster stark,
Grim moonlight, deepest dark.
Nightmares come to those who doze-
In darkness where old Nightfall goes.

Nightfall laughs, and death's ax falls.
Hell opens wide and swallows all.
He rules the depths where no light shows-
Darkness comes where Nightfall goes.

Lock up your children after dark,
Lest Nightfall find an easy mark.
For safety ends at twilight's close-
And darkness comes where Nightfall goes.

Razor claws and fiery eyes,
Leathern wings to cleave the skies.
His soul within stark midnight froze-
Darkness comes where Nightfall goes.

Counting years like grains of sand.
Countless fall beneath his hand.
Time, his minion; night, his clothes-
Darkness comes where Nightfall goes.

Birthed within the black abyss,
His silent gift, a deadly kiss.
Gone before the rooster crows-
Darkness comes where Nightfall goes.

Wolves and bats and beasts of night,
Spirits black that flee the light,
Cringed in fear when he arose-
Darkness comes where Nightfall goes.

He feeds on elders and children,
On soldiers, kings, and beggarmen.
He never stops and never slows-
Darkness comes where Nightfall goes.

The Evil One, the demon blight
Who hides in day and stalks the night.
He steals the stars and drags them low-
Darkness comes where Nightfall goes.