The visitor

the sun had blinked
and the night was tucked in
a soft darkness befell the house
whose views rolled out
into nothingness
a small glimmer haunted
an upstairs bed chamber
a youth old enough
to remain in the house alone
read by candlelight
in all the attention paid to
the words on the page
a distraction tempted to
lure the youth away
it was the way the humble light
glided across the walls
and danced off the vanity
an oval mirror minding its own
business in the corner of the room
the temptation too great
the youth tip toed out of bed
with the candle stick in hand
abandoning the book and its words
the glow grew, casting greater shadows
yet all was cast aside for the youth
as the reflection in the glass
intensified in the shallow dark
the youth took a seat
and beheld what the mirror spoke
pupils dilated in its depths
and the surrounding room
vanished from the ghostly vision
a being took form behind the youth
with horrific radiance and hue
the hypnotic rapture froze the youth in place
as this apparent being of light laid
its hands upon the youth's shoulders
a voice emitted not from the vision
within the mirror but instead
resounded from above the youth's head:

"I am time, the same of which you read.
I am always thirsty, and I am never full.
I will permit you to see me only this once,
but you'll never keep me from savoring your soul."