I Am the Monster Under the Bed

I am the monster under this little girl's bed.

She crawls into bed each night,

prays a little prayer,

and wishes the light to the bathroom could always stay lit

even if she never had to go.

She doesn't know why I'm here.

It's the dreams. I do what I can to stop the dreams.

I try to stop the pain the nightmares cause.

She should never have to feel the hurt that she does in her sleep.

My growl is fierce, and I fight every chance I get.

Space is small, and my reach is just short.

Some dreams, I can't stop.

That little girl doesn't understand what I try to do.

Some nights she whispers,

"Hey Monster, can you turn on the light? I have to go potty."

Other nights, she screams at me,

"I hate you. Stop helping."

She'll kick and slap.

"Go away," she yells, "I want to be alone."

Monsters can cry too.

But you see, I love her too much to let her face those dreams alone.