The air is thick with dust and time,
Sunlight struggles through the grime.
A mansion grand, yet cold and bare,
Echoes of laughter, hanging in the air.
The walls, they seem to breathe and sigh,
Whispering secrets, hidden from the eye.
They speak of love, of hate, of loss,
Of lives entwined, a tangled cross.
A child's soft laughter, fleeting, gone,
Replaced by whispers, mournful, drawn.
A lover's vow, a promise made,
Now broken echoes, in the shadows laid.
The floorboards creak, a chilling sound,
As unseen hands across the floor are bound.
A chilling touch, a phantom's grip,
A silent scream, a final slip.
The portraits stare, their eyes so cold,
Seeing all, but never told.
A haunting gaze, a chilling stare,
The whispers rise, a whispered prayer.
This house, it holds a thousand fears,
A tapestry of forgotten years.
The past it bleeds, a crimson stain,
The whispers echo, and the mansion reigns.
No solace here, no peace of mind,
Only echoes of the lives left behind.
The walls they whisper, secrets untold,
Of love and loss, and stories of old.
So tread with caution, heed the call,
The mansion whispers, waiting for you to fall.
For in its depths, where shadows creep,
The whispering walls, eternal secrets keep.
This poem:
* Uses imagery: The poem uses vivid descriptions like "dust and time," "chilling touch," and "crimson stain" to create a chilling atmosphere.
* Explores themes of darkness and secrets: The mansion's history, the unseen hands, and the whispering walls all contribute to a sense of unease and mystery.
* Uses a haunting rhythm and rhyme: The poem's structure and language create a rhythmic and repetitive effect, mirroring the persistent whispers and the feeling of being trapped.
Remember to practice the poem well, focusing on your delivery and voice to make it truly chilling for the audience. Good luck with your elocution contest!