Demons live under my bed

Don't you know?

They visit me in the night

They tickle my toes with their claws

Don't you know?

And threaten to turn off the light

Last night they took me home

Don't you know?

I didn't put up a fight

We torture and maim lost souls

Don't you know?

And give them a proper fright

So keep your feet covered

Or don't you know

They'll be coming for you tonight

I knew I loved him

Days

Months

Years

Ages

ago.

Its certainty rang through me

a bell light and melodious

His voice sang the second

deep and inviting

The words, the actions, the needs

of the exact moment have fallen

from my memory

But I knew it

and took flight upon it

letting Love lift me

We're married now

Our lives forever entwined

since the moment our eyes met

and I knew then

We'd be together

The future holds no certainties

Taunts with wild absurdities

Until there’s a sense of urgency

And it all feels like an emergency

I’m left frozen in the dark

Running after a crazy lark

Chasing a dream like its my mark

And I’m left to ask should I embark

On this unsure journey?

Will I prove worthy?

Or should this all concern me?

Or is this needless worry?

My heart races against the clock

Sweat beads like bullets from a glock

Has opportunity truly knocked?

Or am I reeling from failure’s shock?

Holding a knife's edge

it draws crimson droplets

that swiftly form a sea of red

It puddles beneath the hand

and still the grip tightens

Anger, Guilt, Passion, Hatred

Reasons to never let go

When memory fails

bitterness remains in its wake

The knife cuts only you though.

Or its dropped

and Relief is felt in a swift wave

washing over you

healing you from the reason

you couldn't let go

The weight lifts and floats away

the chains unlocked

and you can soar higher now

as long as memory remains away

Pride and power come

from letting go

an invisible crown you wear

Succeeding, finally, at years' long goal

But maybe memory still holds it.

Are you okay?

Did sleep well last night?

What would you like for dinner?

The things I

ask my husband to show

him how much I love him.

What are you doing?

Do you need some help?

What movie do you want to watch?

The things he

asks of me to show

how much he loves me, too.

Thank you, love

You're welcome, sweetheart

I'm glad I have you in my life.

The things we

say to each other, now

and forever to show our love.

Accept the flaws of your body

Invisible to other's eyes

Praise it for its strength

to get you through things

for even on a bad day

it's your vehicle for life

Accept the workings of your mind

heard by only you

Change what can be changed

and love what cannot be 'fixed'

It is your perspective

and the lens can always be adapted

Accept your failures

and your successes

for the lessons both offer

Neither comes without the other

and attempts should always be made

Chase your dreams

Accept the canvas that is YOU

It got you this far after all

Hold the paintbrush high

and deep into the colours of the world

Experience and through it

realize you were always someone to love

My dreams plague me with vivid realities so farfetched and daunting I’ve no choice, but to run. My feet pound against barren dirt, stirring dust into the air. Despite the burning feel of it, I must push on.

Glancing behind me, I see a pack of wolves. Scratch that. They’re much bigger than wolves. Much faster, too. Their snarls echo off the cave walls I’ve been placed in by my overactive imagination. I know it’s not real and yet my heart races.

Teeth sink into my calf and I fall forward with a scream. The wet, slickness of blood drips down my leg and sends these unknown creatures into a frenzy. Their bites shred my arms to ribbons.

Just when I’m about to pass out, I have been transported to the centre of a storm. No shelter in sight. But of course, I say to myself and will my sleeping self to rouse. It’s of no use.

The rain shifts from small drops to heavy bullets, or so it feels. My skin tingles and bruises under the assault. Thankfully my limbs are restored and I can run towards the edge of the clouds. The ground is wet and I slip with each step. Mud grabs my shoe off and I keep running, leaving it to the land. I can see the sun shining beyond the black clouds and I yearn for its serenity.

It’s too late, though. Hail the size of watermelons fall from the clouds. Lightning forks, stabbing at my tiny presence on the ground. The thunder sounds like laughter amidst the roar of the storm.

For the first time in years, I stop running. I stand in the centre of the chaos and let the storm strike me down. It doesn’t take long. Both hail and lightning hit me and it’s the most painful thing I’ve ever felt.

I wake with a shout and feel my head, inspect my pillows for blood. Everything’s wet from my sweating heat and my skin’s red. Upon closer inspection, I see white forks winding under my skin, following my veins.

Not again, I think and lapse back into darkness.

Her raven black hair swirled in the wind

wild like her own self.

It called to her

'Soar... Soar... Soar'

She answered the call

her hair changing

to feathery wings

Dark and shimmery.

Her raven form sprang forward

Off the Earth's heavy dirt

And sped towards the clouds

Covered in night's glitter.

Tell me all the ways

You see my beauty,

My worth.

Show me all the ways

You burn for me

And our love.

Act in all the ways

You care for me,

Our families.

Build a life in all the ways

Your heart commands

And share the world.

With me.