042513

Night Crawler

Walking alone to the bus stop a few hours til the new day
I passed a dude in a black hoodie walking the opposite way
he looked like creepy and crawly, that's all I can say
hands in his pockets, face turned down and away

he looked like it wasn't me he was trying to meet
cuz he glanced over then crossed to the other side of the street
he moved so quiet, like he had no shoes on his feet
he blended into the shadows, his disappearance complete

I spun around and stood at the edge of the block - behind
the hooded man was there, frozen, mid-stride
He stopped dead in his tracks, like he was caught by surprise
All I could see was his figure and the whites of his eyes

but just an instant later, the dark figure was gone
started moving again, crossing over a lawn
faceless head held high, he calmly walked on
and ducked into the gate of the nearest home

I didn't wait to see if he had some motive I could understand
I didn't waste another moment I just turned and ran
back, back to the brightly lit business district
where the storefronts' glow comforted me like christmas


I looked out the window on the bus ride back
every shadow we passed could hide a man in black
Was he a creeper, a predator, was I just prey to track
Was he a crawler, a prowler, with a silent attack

I still wonder what'd happen If I hadn't turned around
if my ears hadn't been keen enough to hear that sound
if I hadn't picked out that figure, crawling close to the ground
would I be left on the concrete
on that dark street
in that rich town