The Original Nightmare

The original nightmare

A frightful tale I once endeavored

On a dark and stormy night

A dream that would stick with me forever

The wind whipped tree branches

A creak and a snap

Bolts of lightning flashed bright

Tore the sky with a booming crack

My family and I returned from an outing

When my body suddenly froze with fear

The entrance to my home was not quite right

And I was scared to go near

"Komm mal, gehen wir rein"

My mother beckoned me on

But in the dimness of the night

I knew something was wrong

Obediently, I climbed the stairs

With shaking legs, each weighing a ton

An endless journey up the first flight

When all I wanted to do was to run

As the front door creaked open

A giant red cyclops stepped out

Smiling coyly down from his great height

Yet, still, only I felt any doubt

My family, still oblivious

Followed cyclops inside

While glancing back at pale moonlight

I wished for someplace to hide

Following close behind my parents

I saw the familiar hallway, marble stairs

But the shadows from a dim, distant light

Brought on goosebumps and raised hairs

With just the blink of an eye

They were suddenly all gone

So, with a breath, I gathered my might

With a pounding heart, I proceeded on

A few steps brought me to the kitchen

A glimmer of hope made me peer in

Though instantly, my fear was proven right

As I beheld a scene worse than sin

In a cauldron stirred by a skeleton

My mother's head was churned round and round

Her grinning face staring, stiff and bright

I let out a scream and fell to the ground

Between tears, I called for my dad

I ran through the house, blind with fear

Down the hall, round the corner, to the right

There, my one-eyed father and cyclops drinking beer

My young heart never pounded so quickly

And I awoke with a trip and a fall

Back in bed, with the familiar glow of my nightlight

I was again safe from the first nightmare I'd ever recall