Advice to an extra

When you see a sealed up entrance
or a locked room,
or a locked box,
stop for a moment
before you open — think —
there must be a reason,
there must be something,
somebody wanted kept at bay.

Warning signs should guide your way —
listen to stories,
heed the animals —
rats will lead you away from fire,
birds and wolves away from danger.
But never follow
indeterminate
rustles and crashings
deep into forests —
wait, hold back, be safe.

Likewise,
should you ever find
yourself amongst ruins,
a deserted house,
an empty ship or passage,
keep out —
think of the darkness,
the quietness, or sometimes
the mysterious sounds
and turn back.

You need not live in a horror film.
You need not die.
The script can be edited,
the score re-worked —
hum a love-song
and think of home.
When you hear the beasts, the ghosts — don’t run —
wait — stand with them face to face
state your desire to live beyond midnight
your lack of desire to die.

Rather,
look them straight in the eye,
stand tall, head up,
and walk away.
tell them their afterworld is too crowded
without you to get in the way,
and hum a love song under your breath,
hum a love song and don’t think of death.

You need not live in a horror film.
You need not give in, and die.