Paul S. Gifford

I LIE AWAKE AT NIGHT

I lie awake at night
Night surrounds me as a shroud
Shrouded within my bed
Bed covers pulled on tight
Tight and hidden from the darkness
The darkness of the night.

I hear a noise so hazy
So hazy and spine-chilling
Chilling me to my feet
Feet tucked in so tight
Tight within my feathered bed
Bed save me from my plight

The sound is in the attic
The attic’s above my head
My head starts envisioning creatures
Creatures primeval from the dead
Dead scary monsters; what’re hungry
Hungry for me, their daily bread

I finally fall asleep
Asleep for many hours
Hours of dreaming nightmares
Nightmares galloping through the night
Night is quickly fleeting
Fleeting with the morning light

The morning sun is now rising
Now rising above the hills
The hills far in the distance
Distant becomes my dread
Dread replaced by ease
Ease at the new day ahead