Dark

I remember, as a child staring at the closet door

Afraid that if it was open, just a crack

Some sort of darkness would pour out-

I'd run into Mom's arms, feeling the softness of her embrace

And sleep on the floor in my parent's room

Thinking, somehow, their presence could ward off

My nightmares. 

I think it was never a fear of the dark, 

It stemmed from my fear of being alone

It was the same feeling as when I was standing alone in the playground

Swinging in high arches with no one on the swing next to me

Climbing that tall tree in front of the school and feeling like I was the only person

It was those opposite feelings of freedom and dread:

Green and ebony, mixing together and forming the same knot in my stomach

That made me think

Maybe I'll die here, tonight

Maybe no one will hear me scream

All I am is a tree falling alone in a forest

But there is no forest

There is only me

And it's cold

    and it's dark