As day gives up
the fight, monsters
hidden in the light, come out.
At night fears forgotten
come to life, there is
a monster in the closet
and under my bed.
Mother says it’s not there, but in my head –
Menacing eyes, big
yellow teeth, he comes
for me as I sleep.
Mother does not believe me,
Still she comes to see.
She grabs his foot and pulls –
I grab one too.
Together
We
d r a g
the monster
Through the open door
And slam it behind him,
just to be sure.
Safe in the light;
Mother saved me
From the dream that chases me.
Note: When I was four or five years old my grandmother looked after me while my parents were at work. She watched Dark Shadows every day and every night I woke my mother screaming that I was being chased by a monster – a werewolf or a vampire. She helped me to get rid of the monster and forbid my grandmother to watch Dark Shadows with me.
Poetry