Monsters

Day 19: 'One common feature of childhood is the monsters. The ones under the bed or in the closet; the odd local monsters that other kids swear roam the creek at night, or that parents say wait to steal away naughty children that don’t go to bed on time. Now, cast your mind back to your own childhood and write a poem about something that scared you – or was used to scare you – and which still haunts you (if only a little bit) today.'


I can't watch horror films,
Anything that gradually racks up suspense
So you know something dreadful
Is going to happen, even if 
You look away, close your eyes,
Switch over. 
It's been like this 
Ever since that ill-fated teenaged night
I stayed up late with my sister -
Our parents were out, 
We were alone in the house. 
She wanted to watch Jekyll and Hyde
But not alone; like a fool
I joined her. 
To this day I can't remember
How far through I got, 
Whether she saw it out.
But I remember the horror, 
The loss of control,
The violence of having a monster
Hidden inside you,
Or coming for you
Out of the dark. 



© Copyright 2023. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved


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