Inspired by all three images

Monsters

Evil walks in many forms
shifting shapes, forecasting doom,

the warning clear—stay in the light,
avoid rural roads and city streets
don’t walk or drive alone at night.

Here harbingers of death
hover, hop, float, fly, and slither.
Watch for backward toes, a tail,
a wolf with eyes you recognize,
your girlfriend who is not—

evil hides behind false smiles,
beneath the skin–
fear the monsters, they are here
within.

Paul Brookes is hosting a month-long ekphrastic challenge using folklore images to celebrate the launch of his new poetry collection, “As Folktaleteller.” You can see the images here and also read the other responses. I’ve revised this some from the poem posted there.