Nightmares

 

The clouds got moody,

The moon got scared and hid behind.

The dark night got darker

And all got hidden safe for the fireflies.

A billion over, by now doze

But I, in my lonely bed toss about.

The deal at dawn I must keep

But sleep eludes me by and by.

Things got scary from which I ran,

I tried to hide, still yet am found;

The cold hands reaching out,

Then I sprang up, but by myself

And safe in bed.

Moments passed by but my eyes still shone,

Getting heavy at times I couldn’t tell how

As I walk a path I can’t keep straight,

Spinning, I am thrown off then I woke

But safe in bed.

The night far gone but still I am weak,

It was still ticking when I heard the sound;

The car came speeding yet at me;

So I jumped to safety, 

Then I woke, but still in bed.

The snake’s not moving but them, I don’t trust

And then they were more and came at me,

I tried to run but on them I trod,

So I sprang to safety but still in bed.

The fault’s not mine but still I am chased,

My points not heard and so, I ran

They caught up with me, so I tried to fly;

I found I could but still, hands could reach

I wriggled and ran to freedom,

But still in bed.

ii

My bags are packed

And so I made for the door,

But a warning came through

“something terrible is about to happen”,

And my heart skipped a beat

With mine eyes darting back and forth;

Searching for answers

And offering a silent prayer,

I called out but no one was there;

It was so lonely, so dark.

A shadow sprang up

When the moonlight broke through

And my heart jumped about,

I slammed back the door

And turned lock the key,

It called to me, “pass me the broom”.

Could this be the terrible thing?

Am I helping, is this the right thing?

Then I woke but by myself

Sweating in the cold night.

iii

There is news of an invasion

But all must remain calm,

All must stay indoors,

We must not interfere.

My door bell rang

And a help answered it

Then the news said we shouldn’t.

Who is it, I called but none was there,

But I knew something bad,

Something terrible came in;

Something better left outside.

“Don’t answer the door”

But the news took its time

And now I am the host;

Then I woke.

The night got cooler and so I dozed,

For nightmares are worse with the heat.

The clock’s still ticking but it doesn’t matter now

‘cause I slept away and up with the dawn.

- Bempillar Awuapila