Whisper in the Shadows

A lantern glows in misty air,
a beacon warm, a light to spare.
It flickers soft, it hums so bright,
a golden promise in the night.

A stranger stands with outstretched hand,
a voice like silk, a tone so bland.
"Come closer, friend, escape the cold,
my fire burns with heat untold."

But step too near, the warmth will fade,
the light will shift to sickly shade.
The stranger’s smile will twist, unwind,
his hollow eyes no soul to find.

The lantern’s glow, a phantom gleam,
a lure, a lie; not what it seems.
For some are drawn, yet none return,
a lesson left for those who learn.