The Building

From the outside, the building looked evil,
even malevolent.
It glowed with evil intent.

I was young, not knowing evil
and, yet, I shuddered.
Just seeing it made me afraid.

What had I done that I, alone,
should have stumbled
on such a frightening apparition.

I turned and ran and didn’t stop running
until, arriving home,
I was once more in my bed

with the covers drawn over my head.
And still, I shuddered.
What had I seen? What discovered?

And would it be frightening by day?
Did I see evil?
I do not know to this day.

I did not go back as an adult.
I believe in evil,
and it’s nothing I wish to attract;

but so commonplace,
I’m no longer sure I can see
or always avoid it.

I have talked with other adults.
We’re all afraid,
especially for our children:
so innocent, yes, and so brave.