Hell, Or, Nameless Rider

Hooves are tapping, beating dirt

Nameless Rider comes at once

No one knows for whom he searches

No escaping, all are cursed!

No escaping, not one victim!

No escaping, hope is venom!

Awakened from a midnight dream,

Yea, from my sleep and from my bed

By my ankles I am dragged

Kicking, screaming, I am led

Across hell’s basement, I am dead

Against my will, I am dead

No escaping, not one victim!

No escaping, I am with him

Awakened from my slumber

My pillows soaked in sweat

It was just a nightmare

A moment to forget

Silly legend’s had me won

There is no Nameless Rider

Who holds a chain or gun

There is no Nameless Rider

‘Tis games and play and fun

Out my window in the night

Me thinks I see a candlelight

In my ears, is that tapping?

Games and fun, I pray, distract me

Out my window in the grass

Hooves of fire, burning brass

Up the stairs and coming fast

Down the hall, my parents snore

Nameless Rider at my door

“There is no Nameless Rider!”

The Nameless Rider laughed

No escaping, not one victim!

No escaping, I am with him

I have not hope. I have not wisdom.

Just a warning— I pray you listen Nameless Rider has a chain

With it you will not be free again

By my ankles I am dragged

Through the yard and in the dark

No face or name or company

Just blackness

Henceforth through eternity