The Music Box

 The Music Box

A jingle echoes through 

the "empty" house.

The constant melody grows louder

as if it were moving down the hall outside her bedroom door.

Ever since her parents left,

she's been stuck in this house with nothing but her doll

and the whispers of the shadows that accompany her. 

She would talk to herself, she didn't want to feel scared.

"They wouldn't do anything to hurt me"

"They protect me"

As the feeling of guilt disguised as a dark black fog

covers her bedroom

"Please come out"

"We just want to talk"

She felt scared this time, No,

she felt angry. 

Why would they come back?

They beg as they slowly move down the hallway

hoping to be let in.

The melody growing in sound,

diminishing in tone,

The Devil's Interval becomes unbearable

Does she have to let them in a second time?

She doesn't want to repeat her actions,

but the anguish turns into spite

Suddenly,

The jingle floods her ears

It's loud, too loud.

She slowly opens the door but can't even hear the creaking of the old house

Silence.

At her feet, an old, ratchet music box,

staring at her like she's seen a ghost.

Denouement...

As I just finished writing this poem, I feel like it captures what I would want my writer's voice to be like at this time. Usually, I would be breaking down this poem and talking about its meanings and layers, but I will intentionally not do that. With this poem specifically, I have my own interpretation (perhaps the "true" interpretation), but what I am most proud of coming out of this is the number of layers of meaning I was able to add to this poem with some being more obvious than others. But just like any other poem that was ever written, this is also up for interpretation.