The nightmare lingers,
waiting for sleep,
its dominion smothering
all light.

Blinding my eyes,
squeezing my heart,
clawing my mind,
raggedly breathing.

A bully,
pushing to the pavement
all kindness and peace.
gagged and blindfolded.

I tear at it,
opening raw,
the nightmare bleeds,
flooding thought.

I rise from bed,
and turn on the lights,
but the shadow remains,
hiding, waiting.