Night Terrors

young imagination bright  
awakening each night  
creating horrors to hide in  
shadows and haunt young minds  

nightlight on,  
bedtime songs,  
prayers to scare  
away the fear  
 
click – lights out  
one last glass of water  
door left open a crack  
baby bear snuggled tight  
 
stories forming into dreams  
innocence distorted  
silence sounds like screams,  
evil spirits hovering  
 
prison bed  
claws underneath  
reaching out for little feet  
too paralyzed to leave  
 
mom already checked  
nothing's there  
hush now, kids  
it's time for sleep  
 
she'll say to count  
until the sun comes out  
but by then  
it'll be too late