Asylum

As silent deep within my bed I lie,
And wait for sleep to take me to my dreams,
I feel a sense of dread, and wonder why
That nothing in my room is what it seems.

The shadows dance and leap upon the wall,
The lamplight making them seem almost real.
I hear a creaking noise out in the hall.
What horrors will my tortured mind reveal?

The room is cold, despite my sweating brow.
The ticking of the clock keeps me awake.
As I lie still, I wonder when and how
The welcome, peaceful light of day will break.

I hear the hissing whispers in the black.
They tell me that I do not have a prayer.
They say my mind is never coming back.
Their taunting is far more than I can bear.

The door begins to open in my room.
I shut my eyes, for I don't want to see
This thing that has now come to seal my doom.
It reaches out and gently touches me.

I cannot move, nor do I dare to speak.
The thing has now engulfed me in its grasp.
My tongue is tied, and so I cannot shriek.
Eyes open, and I sit up with a gasp.

The room is hushed as I become aware.
My sanity is very nearly gone.
What terrors in the dark are hiding there?
When will the night give way to tranquil dawn?