POEM - When Closing your Eyes Isn’t Enough

Have I told you

All

My ghost stories?

The bumpy nights

And the prickly skin

The hair standing right straight up

As spirits whispered

Mournful words

That tickled the ears

And chilled the bones

And never let you sleep

Because the creatures lurked

And crept and moaned

As shivering beneath your covers

Your eyes shut tight

Fists gripping desperately

To the pillow

Smashed against your face

Those nights when floors creaked

Doors slammed

Branches tapped on windows

And scurrying little feet

Danced menacingly

Beneath your bed

And you shivered till morning

As light snuck in the window

Those were the lucky times

At least the bed was safe

The other stories

They’re not so nice

When you face the demon head on

And nothing pushes it away

Not light or sound

Or begging or pleading

Your bed is not near

You are all alone

Closing your eyes won’t do

Because you are running

For your life

And for your sanity

Those are the stories

You don’t tell lightly

Those are the stories

That don’t end well

When the deceptive sigh of relief

Precedes the ominous dark doorway