Nightmare Sestina

The clock strikes twelve and everything is still

My body is not mine, I cannot move

I try to scream, my lips will make no sound

In darkness something shuffles by my bed

My doubts are matched silently by my fear:

Am I awake? Or do I only dream?

My instinct tells me this must be a dream

I hear a creaking noise, my heart is still

My blood turns cool as ever mounting fear

runs through my veins; something is on the move

I hear a scuttling beneath my bed

And as the noise began, thus ends the sound.

Cautiously, sure not to make a sound

No longer sure that this is not a dream

I make my way to the edge of my bed

And making every effort to be still

turn covers down and bear my legs to fear.

My feet touch ground and there’s nothing to fear

My falling footsteps are the only sound

And how silly was I, afraid to move!

And now as I awake from childish dreams

That haunt me in the night, I know I still

Saw something in the dark beneath my bed.

As carefully, I reapproach my bed

My thoughts are flooded by a poison fear

Imagined nightmares grip my body still

And underneath my bed I hear a sound

As if the nightmare creature of my dream

Were flesh and blood; I see the darkness move

In shadow’s shade I watch the something move

And see it’s piercing eyes beneath my bed

And, climbing from below, as in a dream

Embody all the darkness which we fear

And in a wretched symphony of sound

Crawl from my sight, leaving the night air still.

I’ve dared not move all night because I fear

Once I’m in bed, I will not hear its sound

If this is no dream, it’s in my home still