Curiously, peculiarly, one night as I drifted to sleep
Faintly, perceptibly, I recognized movement outside Gradually, inexorably, saw there was no place to hide
Doggedly, resolvedly, I struggled my best not to flinch Steadily, relentlessly, as the front door opened an inch Probably, decidedly, suppose you could call this a pinch
Softly, cautiously, I heard something crawl in the room Abruptly, startlingly, there befell a rambunctious boom Tauntingly, mockingly, it must have knocked over a broom Puzzlingly, inexplicably, its nature I dared not assume
Stonily, numbingly, I lay stricken in a cold dread Menacingly, tormentingly, as it clambered up on the bed Spookily, hauntingly, ruffling the sheets in its stead Audibly, calamitously, the alarm bells rang in my head Surely, unreservedly, were I sane by now I'd have fled
Now forced to act, to confront this terror, I flicked on the lights, disclosing my error And I laughed aloud, for now I could see, My little niece Averie, smiling with glee
