To Sleep

Sleep, to sleep.
my soul says goodnight and slumbers.
but my body stays awake, peering in darkness.
quiver, deliver fear in a guise of hope.
nightmares paralyze my heart;
my body goes numb.
the vivid dreams become real.
I jerk in fear as a hand grips my shoulder.
I turn to see a tall demon grinning.
Grinning a smile that causes my spine to freeze.
my cries are sealed in my mouth.
my tears yearn to bleed.
and as I fight to wake up,
my soul is torn from my body,
awakened by perilous fear.
paralyzed, I pray for help.
My body is quickened.
I wake completely up, relieved of my escape.
but, as I start to feel victorious,
the hand comes back on my shoulder.
I shudder as I turn around.
The demon is smiling.
I realize that my dream was warning of things to come.
Now my soul is being ripped from my body.
the demon begins to drag my soul.
and the gates of Hell are open.