TWO'S COMPANY

Two's Company

They said the house was haunted but

He laughed at them and said, 'Tut, tut!

I've never heard such tittle-tattle

As ghosts groan and chains that rattle;

And just to prove I'm in the right,

Please leave me here to spend the night.'

They winked absurdly, tried to smother

Their ignorant laughter, nudged each other,

And left him just as dusk was falling

With a hunchback moon and screech owls calling -

Not that this troubled him one bit;

In fact he was quite glad of it.

Knowing it's every sane man's mission.

To contradict all superstition.

But what is that? Outside it seemed

As if chains rattled, someone screamed!

Come, come, it's merely nerves, he's certain

(But just the same, he draws the curtain)

The stroke of twelve, but there's no clock!

He shuts the door and turns the lock

(Of course, he knows that no one's there,

But no harm's done by taking care!)

Someone's outside- the silly joker,

(Might as well pick up the poker!)

That noise again! He checks the doors

Shutters and windows, makes a pause

To seek the safest place to hide

(The cupboard's strong - he creeps inside).

Not that there's anything to fear,

He tells himself, when at his ear

A voice breathes softly, 'How do you do!

I am the ghost. Pray, who are you?

- Raymond Wilson

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