King of Nightmares

a dark apology

Just behind your brightest dreams

where you thought was light, so it seems;

sits a wretched kingdom of the blackest pitch.

A ruler with twilight eyes, on his thrown he sits.

 

Draped in midnight, fiery stars keep absent from his collar.

Cushioned heads nurse grand ideas, adding to his succulent fodder.

The highest of sincere hopes are dragged to his joyless pit,

while still convincing the wildest of dreams he doesn't exist.

 

Even the Boogie man bows to his arresting hand in the land of sleep,

its in this all-consuming place that life's dying light comes to weep.

As long as dreams are sweet, his dark kingdom will stand behind illusions,

the land of nightmares increases its dimensions as bliss withers to delusions.

 

His quenchless thirst compels him to feed at every turn,

devilishly ecstatic that optimistic minds never seem to learn.

His bite is both wide and vicious, never leaving much space to hide;

cracking fantasy at its foundation, to stir what magic lays inside.

 

May your imaginative mind be cautious of the things it may wish;

for convincing you that he, isn't I and I am not him was my greatest trick.   

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[annabellee]

your poem really drew me in... gorgeous write, great imagery, I enjoyed reading it a lot :)

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you for a lovely review, Anna. I'm glad it was able to draw you in like that.

[annabellee]

you're most welcome :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

making that deal with the devil will get you happines for awhile...but he'll have you in his pocket..and the joy will end...i like this written from the perspective of the devil himself...but how you fooled the person spoken to until it was too late.

cool write!

jacob

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thanks, Jacob I'm glad you enjoyed it. I actually struggled with whether to end the piece with that final couplet, I tossed around a few others. That one just seemed to fit the best with the overall body of the piece.

[Great Aunt Astri]

Accepting the 'dark' side is one way of overcoming it. The man in your poem has done just this and is probably a real nice guy!

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, Astri I'd like to think he's a nice guy, can't say it always rings true though.

[Renée]

Dark..Light..ThE ShAdOwS.. we all have these sides.
The trick is which wins in life's daily walk? Well Done Poet !

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Very wise words, thank you for yet another awesome review, Renee.

[Renée]

curtsy...a pleasure to read

[Hatchling]

Amazingly written! - Fluttershy

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you... I appreciate you reading/reviewing this piece.

[Frieda P]

Holy cats, this one smacked me upside the head Travis and flipped me over, nightmares are us. I live and dream within your words, it's not a good place to be. Very affecting piece of work my friend.

'the land of nightmares increases its dimensions as bliss withers to delusions'

Delusions, illusions, they all feel the same once you wake from this horrid nightmare!

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

I'm glad this piece was able to reach you in such a way. We absolutely can be nightmares. I'll try to make my world of words a more pleasant place to be. Thanks for another very uplifting review, Frieda.

[icelandicblue]

Who really knows where all the shadows lie waiting to darken our light. We carry within ourselves a duality of nature, an angel and a devil each on one shoulder, that we must be aware of. We often don't know what we will really do until we are tested. I like your metaphor very much.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, we all do have that duality, its part of the balance of existence. Unfortunately, the villain in me, is just as potent as the hero. I'm glad you liked this piece.

[Yellow Butterfly]

There's darkness in every person no matter how good, and that darkness can sometimes manifest itself as a whole new being and rear it's ugly head when one leasts expects.


May your imaginative mind be cautious of the things it may wish;
for convincing you that he, isn't I and I am not him was my greatest trick.

My wish is for you T is to keep up with your fantastic writing and from me to convince you that YOU are a brilliant poet..

YB

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

I would like to be among the brilliant poets one day, I do thank you for your humbling thoughts on my ability. I hope I continue to write to the standard you have come to enjoy. Thank you so much L, you always give such uplifting words.

[Yellow Butterfly]

Your welcome..... :O)

[Pryde Foltz]

The devil that lies within...Awesome write.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

You've summed it up perfectly, thanks for another great review.

[SyberRose]

Nicely dark Travis...loved the theme and imagery...conjured in an eerie atmosphere..Rose:)

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, Rose your visits always leave me humbled.