Dream Catcher

There is a dream catcher hung above my bed to keep away the bad dreams:

Dreams of sharp-tongued names called by vicious snakes in school uniform,

A corner where I sit alone, tears cascading on an open book,

Friends who get close to me just to stab me in the back,

Razor blades and scissors gliding repeatedly across my skin,

A boy who mistakes sex for love,

Food that lies on my plate untouched,

A man who calls himself my father sneaking into my bedroom at night for a ‘cuddle’,

And a mother who always takes me to the hospital because I “fell down the stairs”

There is a dream catcher hung above my bed to keep away the bad dreams

But it is not working.

Reviews

[Rose of many colours]

Sometimes the things we consider as bad dreams are real life experiences. This piece speak of such. And the way to be rid of nightmares is to say a prayer to the one above. it's a great write though..God blesss

[icelandicblue]

It doesn't work I suppose when life is a bad dream. You've done a good job of constructing this poem and allowing the reader to fill the angst and horror that you're dream catcher can't catch.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

It's hard to catch a dream when there are monsters under the bed. I have personally experienced some of this, and I am angered the most by parents who bestow such cruelty upon their children. While viable, that child remains scarred for life; and no matter the years, the ache of that pain never diminishes.

You did a wonderful job of speaking with a "young voice," far removed from the wealth of wisdom that comes with life and learning. I think that makes the poem all the more palpable.

Nice job.

[Aaron the Baron]

This is intense. The imagery and the message. It leaves me hollow. Not to say it leaves me feeling nothing, it leaves me feeling the hollow of hoplessness. I truly hope these are only nightmares.