Bad Dreams

As a child
the images, the dreams
were so real
I would shiver, cry, scream
terrified
of a dream
only a dream

Life felt so uncertain then
a lightly balanced plank over a
deep dangerous precipice
I knew that I had to hold on
to win
to outlast my dream
if I were to open my eyes
and continue to be

I managed to stop them
to train my brain
to wake up, snap me out of
terrors realm
release me in
realities safety

But even now
I fight them
fight the dreams that
threaten to smother me
fight the images that
try to drown me
fight the despair
that seeks to overwhelm me