Imagination

from a child's perspective

As sleep evades her far too active mind,

she hears the sudden chiming of the clock.

The witching hour has come to taunt and haunt

exposing doubts and fears which run amok.

Each shadow on the wall takes ghoulish form,

her thoughts race helter-skelter through her head.

She dives beneath the duvet terrified,

her awful screams enough to wake the dead.

An arm escapes to feel a bedside lamp,

her fingers fearful they may come to harm.

She finds the switch and flicks it with relief,

a flash of light and then a sense of calm.

And gone at once the demons of the night

back to the scary lands which feed her fright.

Reviews

[Derekv]

Amazing as always. You have quite a way with words, Chris. This poem is so relatable, and it completely nails a child's perspective of lying in bed, afraid of the shadows. I've always had a very active imagination, and this poem brought back memories of my own childhood experiences.

Wonderful piece!

-Derekv

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Derekv. Hope my poem didn't bring back too many horrible experiences. I still have to sleep with the light on in the hallway lol.

Chris

[Jimmy Yetts]

Felt like that just last night, Chris.
Beautifully and perceptively portrayed!

[Chris Shaw]

Those demons Jimmy, those demons. Always at nightime. Thank you for your response.

[John the Baptist]

I understand the poem is written from a child's perspective, but I believe the tendencies described stay with us to some degree unless we find a way to deal with them. Ask any hypochondriac.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you and I have to agree with you. I still sleep with a light on in the hall. Can't abide complete darkness. Does that make me a hypochondriac? lol

Chris

[Onlyme]

Oh.... reminders of childhood in bed. Scared of the dark, and the shadows. Wonderful images held with this creepy poem. We can all relate to. Chris. Thank you for sharing. Dee

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dee.

Chris