what nightmares tale shall grip my frame
the sound of wood twisting and cracking,
bones breaking and sinew snapping
this beast won’t die, lay awake these tears I cry,
blood red lips and a powder white face
broken yellowed teeth and bloodshot eyes,
smiling manically, barbed insanity
a penetrating gaze that held me cold,
you played dead, head in the noose to one side
springing back with fluttering eyes and a gruff laugh,
what demon are you that you have the temerity to annoy me
you pester and persist a campaign, each bead is blooded sweat,