Fits and starts
gasps and heaves
half past midnight
my body spasms awake
fearing things hiding in the shadows

I cannot grasp hold of it
and yet I cannot just burrow under the covers
pretend its not there

Even in my dreams it haunts me
losing my grip on hope like that
all sudden
like a red balloon, like a soaring kite
come free from my hands
floating upon the wind
until I can’t even see it