Having some spare time the other night, I decided to write a quick free-form poem on based on a thought I had earlier. I’m not sure if it’s one of my better works, but I love the premise.
“Childlike Bravery”
I remember when I was a kid,
afraid of the monsters under my bed.
I’d hide under the covers at night,
because obviously the sharp claws
and teeth of those beasts
couldn’t possibly pierce
my linens.
But in the morning
I would courageously search
for my nocturnal terror.
Armed with flashlight and broom,
probing the underside
of my bed.
So terrified one night,
but so much braver in the morning.
But when I became an adult
and learned that
monsters do not exist,
I turned inwards for my nightly fright.
Does she love me?
How will I pay this off?
What could I possibly do
to pass my exams?
Anxious to no end,
I will toss and turn in bed,
hoping for the day when
all our problems are no more
and I can finally
sleep soundly.
Until then,
I will lay in my bed
and wait for a day
when my mind quiets.
I don’t want to act.
The world is so scary.
I wish the world
were just my monsters
under the bed.
At least I could face them
with childlike bravery.
I would be
So terrified one night,
but so much braver in the morning.
