The Legend of the Mason County Bird (The Mothman) by Woodrow G.Moore, II

Artwork by Paula Gregory He swooped and swept upon the teens,/ parked in their car-exploring lover's lane.// He frightened a community of good beings,/ none wanted to become a victim of it's fame.// It happened, what were they to do?/Report? a 100 sightings of the dreaded thing.// The Mason County bird, red-eyed and true/tried to warn of pending dangers, not inflame?// Disasters, tragedies, known of folklore,/did these birds of the past lend their names// to cause heed, awareness, from days of yore,/not to tempt the hand of fate, all ready maimed?// Fear for fear's sake or far beyond beware/ of a bridge, once stout, now quite lame.// The bridge collapsed, taking souls prepared-/ for the ashes and dust from which they came.// Bird warnings, things that come from the night,/ not so clear shadow signs, hard to contain,// did it fly to us bringing messages contrite/ from another time? Could we ever guess the game?