Shadows

by Arnold Hollander

the door opened and
he entered the hall
it was empty
as were other

rooms he’d searched
there were sounds
from the old
radiator’s

steamy sputtering the
tick tock of his watch
and lilting music
seemingly childlike

shadows appeared
before him swirling and
dancing but
sudden laughter

gave them a reality
he ignored the scene
and climbed the
near stairs to

an attic room with door ajar
he spied a toy soldier on
the wood floor
marching to an

eerie cadence the music was
from an ipod hooked
to speakers in the corner
not so the laughter

feeling a chill
he turned retreating
down the stairs
laughter and shadows following