tonight I hang myself to sleep
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,
