Never advertising his tainted wares
or dirty currency in which he deals,
still mastered well the sinister art
of leeching colour from human auras.

Rarely seen in daylight hours
preferring instead to stalk,
in shadowed corners of mortal uncertainty,
inhabiting dens of hominal dubiety.

Susceptible prey, never far away,
crooked nose adeptly sniffs out -
unmistakable… the scent of self-doubt.

Stealth of hoof at midnight hush,
odorous breath and boney hand,
icicled claws that puncture
soft the flesh succumbs.

From serum imparted
victims rarely break free,
addicted as they become
to the black vortex of insanity.

And from humid alley, his putrid habitat,
were spawned the lethal offspring,
an infamous pair of tyrannical twins,
christened Fear and Regret,
well fed and growing fat
unfolding their deadly wings
poised proudly to follow
in their father’s footsteps.