the woman on the wall

humming in my bones — humming.

roaring in my ears — roaring.

I whip my head round to see silky strands of hair. Suddenly — I’m there.

In my childhood home, completely alone, the furniture upside down.

A woman I don’t know, stranger and crone, is sitting in a chair.

crawling down the wall — crawling.

She comes at me and screams, I burst at the seams — In fear.

I’m scared.

She‘s choking me. I can’t breathe. Set me free. Please.

With a start I wake. I see — I’m safe.

Until I sleep again.

To my childhood home, each night she comes. I wake each morning screaming.

A woman I don’t know, I can’t seem to run. Each night while I lay dreaming.