Night Manse

There between the manse and stable
Shadows of the late dusk curl.
From the manses ancient gable
Now floats the ghost of one slim girl.

Down to the crumbled wall she goes
And through the leafy ivy there.
She moves as fluid water flows,
And waves her long and luscious hair.

Here silky tendrils like to yarn
Fall from the moon to filter down
Against the old and dingy barn,
In shadows tinged with grayish brown.

The plaintive howl of some great beast
Here echoes from the high plateau,
Rebounds then north and south and east,
To settle near a dark chateau.

Algol traverses in ellipse;
Orion slowly sinks and sets.
The moon is in a strange eclipse.
Oak branches click like castanets.