I screamed and cried, night after night.
The monster under my bed is waiting for me to shut my eyes.

Mother tucked me back in.
Nursery rhythms my father would sing.

There is no monster, now you must sleep.
No more chattering, shouting or calling out not even a peep.

There on the top bunk, the ceiling cracks spiralling above my head.
Repeating the words my parents have said.

But I could hear the monster snarl and hiss.
Frozen, terrified I'd lay there in my own piss.

Teeth chattering loudly in my head.
Whilst the beast crawls out from under my bed.

Yellow Clawed like hands, scratch on the bed frame.
Whilst breathlessly whispering out my name.

I shut my eyes as tight as I can.
The covers pulled up tight by my trembling hands.

It mocks my terror and teases my fear.
The retched smell alerts me it's near.

My breath ragged, my heart racing in my chest.
I hide under the covers in my protective nest.

I wait in the darkness, for the beast to take me by surprise.
But my train of thought is interrupted by cries.

I lower the cover, my eyes adjusting to the night.
I see in the corner something quivering and slight.

"Why are you crying" the words slip from my lips.
It shuffles closer with its clicking hips.

It inhales a deep breath, the words beginning to form.
It's eyes fogging over like the start of a storm.

"Your the monster that sleeps above my bed"
It looks me up and down with its craning head.

"Every night mother and father say not to be scared.
But there you are above my bed".