"Vampires" by Lawrence Raab

So tender to the light it breaks them--
sunset rising, midnight's their noon,
earth's ancients following cock's call
home to sleep.  They cannot take death
too seriously, who half-live each
borrowed day, alone in a shuttered room,
slender of face and eyes sensibly shut,
though stake and cross shake their dreams.
Sir and Lady, hide quickly your pale daughters
at dark's drawing on.  These shapes
frequent old mansions where no mirror
may touch that softest step,
nor will dust or cobweb break as they glide
upon a play of dreams, and prey towards blood.
At one touch all hungers turn simple,
indifferent to dying.  Linked to wolf's cry,
small as a bat upon the night wind,
still they fear the forms good men
bear against them, so do not ask
for pity ever.  Yet if mischance
find their eyes seared in a blaze of first sun,
or if villages of arms all waving Christ
drive one back upon his coffin's lid,
go easy with your stake, sir.
Pain sits on their hearts, heavy as ours.