Sleep

Looking up from your pillow,

two dice fall from your ears.

You roll two ones.

A snake

without eyes

appears.

Somebody bumbles in,

blinding the serpent

and trying to hide their grin.

They fumble their keys,

smiling; they're guiding you,

'please, come in'.

'Can this be what it looks like it is?'

'Is that the sound that I hear?' you think.

Anything more is a bonus!

You thought that your soul had gone homeless.

Preach to the changed!

Your life comes unchained,

as a brand burns your hand.

It reads: 'onus'.

Vision clearing, matches images to what you'd been hearing.

Devils dressed as angels fill the halls.

They sing mock endearment.

Happiness drains from you;

your smile is gone;

your palms start to sweat

Is this the start of a new end?

An infinite cold regret?

Your arm is feeling heavy.

Something twists your forearm tight.

The serpent's head slides over 'onus'

then it rears and takes a bite.

You feel a sting

that travels down your spine.

The snake, fat and happy,

beginds to unwind.

It hits the floor and laughs

'you now shall pass'.

Your hand goes blank and dries.

Where have all the devil's angels gone from the hall?

You look back and your bedroom door is now a brick wall.

In the centre there is a painting of you,

pale and afraid.

'Welcome' says a sign above

'your debt has been paid'.

You turn to see a glowing cloud.

You're warm,

no longer scared.

A voice within the hall says 'come'

'your new bed is prepared'.