Night Terrors

"I don't believe in ghosts, but they scare me."
                                                          - Anonymous

When I was young, my hyper-active imagination would never permit me to sleep at night in such a way that exposed my back to the large window across the room. I believed that if I did, something horrible outside could creep up on me as I lay sleeping, completely unaware. Sometimes, however, I would wake up in the middle of the night facing the wrong way. Having let my guard down, I had only one choice...

Below is a short poem that I wrote describing my advice should you ever end up in a similar situation:

If you find yourself awakened in the middle of the night

With your back faced towards the window ‘ganst the pale moon’s rays of light

And the silence is… too quiet and the darkness is… too black

And a sense that something near is sending shivers down your back

Don’t turn around! Don’t move an inch! Lie still and close your eyes

A terrifying silhouette outside your window pries

Don’t move a muscle, make a peep, or breathe a breath of air

And if you’re lucky, it may leave before it knows you’re there

It has no eyes, just sunken holes where eyeballs used to be

But don’t be fooled for it can see much better than you see

A cry for help would be too late cause though it has no ears

It finds its prey by listening to all your darkest fears

It hates you for your rosy skin, your every breath so hot,

Your pulsing veins, so full of life… It hates cause his are not

Its teeth are rotting in its jaws, there’s decay on its breath

It hates you cause you’re still alive and it is walking death

Don’t turn around! Don’t move an inch! Pray hard for sleep instead

For if you turn around this time…

It lurks beside your bed.                                        - J.P. 2003

Sweet Dreams...