Night Terrors

Little girl, grasping at her blanket,
As much a shield as a web of autumn leaves,
Bearing unicorns and rainbows.

To ward off the hollow horned monster
That stalks in the dark cavern doorway,
No longer reflecting the hallway’s faded florals.

She can feel its heated breath venting from the wall,
Stirring her loam shaded hair from the meek pillow.
While listening to creaking claw-steps on the cold porch below.

She squints her eyes, and reaches for the window,
Grasping the moonlight, she weaves
A guardian of shining silver.

A luminous wolf of moonfire
Standing by her side, with a mouthful of glittering teeth,
To shock the shadows back into lamp and toy.

Until the girl learns of monsters,
Far darker then any that bear fangs and claws,
Who sleep in her very blood.

They hunt the morning broadcasts,
Mixing patriotic greed with grisly deeds,
And the evening sun only makes her see names carved in stone.

Night-time horrors bump no longer,
But slither about her thoughts,
Purring of unanswerables and bones soon to rot.

Until she reaches for her chest, and weaves again.
She entwines herself in warm arms holding tight,
And covers the ghostly tombs in moss and flower.

She drowns the hiss of fear,
In a pool of a lover’s murmurs
And a swarm of giggling friends.

Until she sleeps.

by Styrmwolf
posted on 11/23/2007