Night Fears

Sometimes your nightmares are real!

Pulling the covers up round my neck,

Staring at the door,

I know that IT is lurking there,

All muscle and fang and claw.

Leather wings, barbed tail,

Scaled arms, legs and chest,

Horns on its head, red blazing eyes,

Enveloped in a chain mail vest.

Blood dripping from talons,

Used as carving knives.

Saliva dripping from fangs,

Accustomed to taking lives.

I know it's there,

Even though I can't see,

I know why it's there,

It's come for me.

Stepping from my bed,

I cross to the window, trying not to look behind,

Peek round the edge, see the coast is clear,

Then quietly raise the blind.

Lift up the sash,

Slide to the ground,

Run like hell,

Don't look around.

Dash across the field,

Hide among the trees,

Breath rasping, heart racing,

Trying not to sneeze.

Just as I'm thinking 'Do I dare go back?'

Something stirs at the edge of the wood.

Something massive, scaled, winged and black,

Is bearing down on me, meaning no good.

I whimper. Its head swivels towards me.

I cower in abject fear.

Its wings spread and begin to beat.

I bolt in panic as it starts to draw near.

I am prey now, I realize,

As I break into my run.

I won't just die, I'll be eaten,

And that really wouldn't be fun!

Where can I get help?

Who will give me aid?

Where will I be safe?

Why don't I have a blade?

I hear its wings beat,

High above the trees,

I scream, I shout, then beg for mercy,

Trip and fall hard to my knees.

A Huntress poaching in the woods,

To put food on the family table,

Hears my distant, frantic cries,

And comes as fast as she is able.

Appearing at my side,

Hearing the rush of wings,

She glances at the skies,

And understands the nature of things.

“Stand over there in the moonlight,” she told me,

“Make sure that it can see,

You're the bait, I'm its death.”

And she hid herself behind a tree.

I stood where told,

Bathed in light,

Waiting for the attack,

Paralyzed by fright.

The beast plummeted through the branches,

Slamming to earth just yards away,

My bowels turned to water,

My hair turned prematurely grey.

I knew I was dead, I knew I was done,

I knew this was the bitter end,

But what I had forgotten

Was that I had a brand new friend.

With a whooshing thwock a barbed shaft,

Slashed in from the dark,

Burying itself between the monster's eyes,

Snuffing out life's vital spark.

Safe, still breathing, quite unharmed,

I collapsed onto the ground.

The Huntress emerged from behind the tree

And joined me, not making a sound.

In silence we sat companionably,

As I slowly became aware,

That this had all been horribly real,

Not some demented nightmare.

Sometimes the kindness of strangers,

Is all that keeps us alive,

So don't alienate your neighbours,

You might need them to survive.

© 2017 The Iron Horseman

Author's Note

The Huntress is back!

Reviews

[Jessica Lima]

Oh man! Anyone that knows me also knows that I absolutely hate long poems. However, you kept me hanging on every word. I held my breath at certain points, I smiled, I hoped... but above all else, I wished the poem would go on. I craved to know more about the huntress and the beast. Thanks for sharing! Great Poem!

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, Jessica, you are very kind. If you would like to know more about the huntress check out the original poem The Huntress. As you like succinct, I would appreciate your opinion of Bleak Outlook, which was an exercise in brevity!

[Neville]

She is indeed back.. was not sure at first but then.. no sooner had I heard that thwock, she appeared out of the blue, so to speak..... She is one helluva girl, is the Huntress... not sure whether I'm lucky or not, not having any neighbours, wotcha fink eh..... N

[The Iron Horseman]

:) Most of the time it os great not having neighbors, but when you need help they are a big bonus!

[Neville]

I do try hard to be a self reliant as possible but take ya point...

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Great poem I was enthralled to the end

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, Julie.

[Shil]

It's been some time since I read poetry, but when I was reading and the more I read, I wondered why I had abandoned reading poetry and let books rule my reading time.. I loved this poem and it totally hooked me right to the very end..

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you for your kind words, Shil. I actually spend most of my time on books too, so I know what you mean. But I enjoy telling stories in poems, too. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Paul Bell]

The night can be your saviour, or your downfall.
But i must admit, as a kid in the woods at night. It only took one weird sound to get us running for our lives. I could have done with the Huntress then.

[The Iron Horseman]

I know what you mean. I live in the woods and wouldn't mind having her around for protection either!

[Poetic License]

I love, love, love the huntress!!!!! I literally stood up and cheered!

Your ability to spin your tale and keep the gooseflesh rippling is uncanny!!! I had such fun reading and rereading this poem. I might just read it again after dark, under the covers, with a flashlight! Kudos!!!!

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, PL. It was designed with you in mind, and it was a great opportunity to let the Huntress loose again.

[Poetic License]

I vote you let her out long and often!!!!

[The Iron Horseman]

lol! Sounds like a great idea.

[Great Aunt Astri]

The short line stanzas are certainly stagatto (short rapid rhythm) and yes, the longer lines are action/explanatory! I think you have got that just about right!

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you. Your input is much appreciated.

[Great Aunt Astri]

What a wonderfully descriptive epic! The rhythm sometimes jars a bit, but your poem held me glued to the screen. I'll take your advice and go and make peace with the neighbours tomorrow! Thanks for sharing

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, GAA. I agree with you about the rhythm. You have to work to find it where it keeps changing, but it is there! :)
I was trying to use a short rapid rhythm for the panic sequences and a longer one for the action/explanatory sequences, but I cannot decide how well it worked. I would be interested in your opinion on that.