what’s that
i’m awake
a bang like a door or a foot
knocking a chair
who’s there
tense i lie in my bed my face
stretching out on the black air
my ears strain……a creak this time
like a cat on the stair – but we have no cat
if the door-handle turned and a….
shape came in…..darkness
clutches at my startled hair
spiders walk my skin
would i dare
to go for it with my fists – my fists
clench doped with sweat
would i scream
faint or lie there staring
my eyes pushing out in jets of fear
waiting for what – what would it do
a short nipped sound from the earwig night
drops in my ear
i sit up
pinching my breath – was it by the door
or the window – i can’t be sure
i wait for the next sound for the
blade of the knife
i become aware
of the ticking clock…and my father’s
heavy breathing in the next room
the curtain moves and a faint light
like a living thing creeps on the bed
something – a twig – scratches on the pane
a car changes gear on a nearby hill
there is a creak in the house again
a door rattles in a hidden wind – an owl’s cry
dogs barking – even a distant train – all
friendly and easy to explain
i relax
and yawn get out and stand by the window
looking out on the soft outlines of houses
silent lawns making my own peace with night
when i return to bed at last (all
tension gone) birds are standing
on the treetops bringing in the dawn
(Rg Gregory)
More Poetry from Rg Gregory:
Rg Gregory Poems based on Topics: Birds, Fear, Cats, Cars- shape-poems (1) (Rg Gregory Poem)
- shape poems (2) (Rg Gregory Poem)
- shape-poems (3) (Rg Gregory Poem)
- shape-poems (4) (Rg Gregory Poem)
- shape-poems (5) (Rg Gregory Poem)
- song and dance (Rg Gregory Poem)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Fear Poems, Birds Poems, Cars Poems, Cats PoemsBased on Keywords: lawns, bang, knocking, fists, twig, spiders, stretching, nearby, tense, barking, creak