New Terrors

A new nightmare:

Freezing bodies keel and leak

crimson spit across concrete,

the uncaring, cold fabric of

these labyrinthine streets.

Strange faces pass you by, eyes

glazed, imprisoned minds

immersed within

familiar but still screeching

nightmares,

don’t dare to look closer,

try not to breathe in

and ignore the fluid slowly crawling

up through your oesophagus,

a tangled knot of anguish

where your voicebox once was.

The buildings are huge and forever expanding,

great concrete blocks filled with cracking glass

and lights — so many lights — splaying grim patterns upon the streets

eaten by the layer of frost that bites at your aching,

bloodied feet.

Wake up,

hands trembling again,

and roll over in your void of darkness,

reach for comfort

and find nothing

then re-live your nightmare.