Dark Shadows

Dreams are far more dangerous than this.

All I have is a small moment still
in the quiet heart of the night,

woken suddenly by something strange
that takes shape out of a dream
and crawls deep into the shadows

to wait and watch, watch and wait
for all to grow still, quiet again.

Before creeping out, then crawl up
into the bed. To crouch there
on my sleeping, breathing chest.

To watch and wait, to wait and watch,
licking its paws, washing its pelt
until it feels the time is right
to take me inside itself, deep down.

To swallow all I have to offer,
then licking me clean again
with its harsh rough tongue
before it fades away with the night.

Dissolving like the dark shadows
until nothing remains
but the dream of a memory
and the memory of a dream
of some darker darkness deeper
within the darkest shadow.

And a feeling of being taken
into a dream world and left there
like a child in the black forest
of all the myths and fairy stories.