Gentle Claws

Breathing thrusts icy daggers into my chest,
stabbing deep with every inhale.

Fabric feels heavy, wearing me out,
its weight like a second skin.

Heartbeats grow louder against the cage of ribs,
desperate to break free.

Every subtle motion, lingering scent, and faint voice
pervades my senses.

A swarm of tiny appendages creeps across my flesh,
leaving ghostly tingles behind.

Sharp blades dig in, carving lullabies to soothe
the unsettling itch beneath.

Perhaps a night on Elm Street would summon
Freddy Krueger to make a visit.

Pacify my vexation with those gentle claws.