The Stranger

'Twas a gloomy night,
with the moon full bright,
That the stranger, came to the inn door.

His horse was a'frenzied, snorting and whining, and pounding on the cobbled floor.

The stranger brought his hand to the knocker, and with thunder clapping all 'round

He smote three times, on that great brass ring, and the storm seemed to echo the sound

The innkeep awoke in a terrible fright,
Who could be out there? At this time of night?

Scurrying down, he peered through a crack,
And the appearance of the stranger, stared at him back

Timid and cautious, his family he did stir, and together they stuttered
"Can we help you, good sir?"

The stranger swept past them, out of the gloom, and into a dusty chair, in the tavern's central room.

"Bring me meat and wine" , the stranger did say, "and I'll pay you any price, if I come again some day"

The innkeep however, was a cunning old shrew,
For before him was a man no doubt richer than he knew

"Oh, my good sir, for you, it is all free! But how about a room? If you please, follow me"

Up stairs and corridors, the two men did go,
Till the innkeep gestured, his prized room to show

The stranger approved, and entered in, but the door slammed shut, leaving him locked in the din

The innkeep cackled "if you please sir, the gold, otherwise you will stay here, locked in the cold.

I have always known, a pretty coin or two, but who knows how many riches I could drain out of you!"

The door did lock, impossible to unblock, and the innkeep left, successful in theft.

However, The Stranger did break out his cell, held a knife to the Innkeep, and his family as well.

"Oh seed of sin, oh wretched flesh, the only price you deserve is one for your death"

Launching at the Innkeep, his head he did remove, the family watched, a horror they couldn't disprove.

Then the little children, the Stranger did kill, and the mother too, to complete the fill.

He took a flaming torch, off a nearby wall, and set fire to the inn, bodies and all.

"Now let this be a lesson, a lesson to you. Only death awaits, for those without virtue."

The Stranger looked at the building, and took a breath, and away;
Away walked, the Shadow,
Of Death.