Afraid of the Dark (By Cat Matchuk)

Fear what you cannot see,
you never know what lurks in the dark.

The monsters under the bed reach through us,
to burrow a home in our hearts,
to become us.

If we are monsters, we shouldn’t fear the dark,
but I do.

I tremble and cry,
tense and twitch.

I breathe deep and inhale the dark,
I am afraid.

Fearing the hands that grope blindly,
they try to pull me away.
I reach for your arms to hold me,
to bring me towards the day.

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