sleep deprivation

a cry of mama
shatters the darkness
loud enough to disturb

the unborn and the undead
filled with enough fear
to pierce his subconcious
in a cold sweat
he claws through a fog
coming awake
with heart in his throat
trembling hands
wipe a clammy brow
logic tells him the house

is still empty
but logic is useless at three a.m.
fear requires a search of each room
with flashlight in hand
every square foot is checked
for demons, groundlings, ghosts
and closet monsters
until solitude is once again
confirmed
that’s when it hits him
the cry did not come
from outside of his room
the cry came from within
where his soul still trembled
trapped in a moment
of unbearable darkness
where witches carve
demonic symbols in skin
ogres gnaw on unfettered bones
where rainbows
are promises of pain to come
ghosts bear witness
to confessions unholy
and where even angels
fear to tread
he fights through his fear
searching for solace
a place of peace
where sleep was once welcomed
restful and free
now sleep
sleep was just a memory
rest cannot be found
four a.m.
and infomercials
bring him back down
allowing a kind of
tossing and turning
until sunlight
allows for hope once again
maybe tomorrow
the sheep will return