Nightmare

Coal black dream like miner’s lung
Roof of mouth grips arid tongue

 

 

Images of bat that flitters
Washboard sounds of demon titters

 

 

Cotton sheet, so damp, so chill

Nameless dread a sour pill

 

 

Nail scrapes on window pane

Covers up then down again

 

 

Heat and cold take their turn

Flesh to freeze and then to burn

 

 

Skin a crawl with clammy beads
Revisited by shameful deeds

 

 

Sleep’s swift current sucks me under
Rationality to plunder

 

 

Up I bob for breath of air
Shadows give a waking scare

 

 

Down again for more unease
Morning, dawning, if you please…

 

 

...At last, a sweet dream fills my eyes!
Oh dear God, it’s time to rise