My Nightmare's Nemesis

With darkness descending and the stars overhead,

I stay to the path, and plunge on ahead.

A root trips me up and I flounder in space,

With no nearby purchase, a thorn tears my face.

I pick myself up and brusquely brush off the snow,

And onward I trudge toward a far, distant glow.

My objective is there, along an unbeaten course;

Something guides me - a strange, unseen force.

I look at the mountain - it’s too high to climb!

But I’m defeated already with that thought in my mind.

The trail seemed so simple as I left on this track,

But I’ve lost track of time; must go on, can’t go back.

They took in my visage; yes a ripe, easy mark,

With their arrogant pride, they missed my deep inner spark.

A spark for survival, a mad race to the end;

I’ll fight tooth and nail is the message I send.

I stop, aspirate, with lungs burned by cold,

My breath’s smoky vapor trapped by winter’s harsh hold.

I feel my strength ebbing, but I refuse to slow down,

For time’s a key factor, if my memory’s sound.

Thorns tear my clothes; damn it, I’m lost!

But I have to go continue, regardless the cost.

An eerie green glow ignites the black sky.

I shiver with fright as owls appear, screaming by!

My eyes open wide and I gasp out in horror!

A beast has appeared, possessing great power.

Strange armor guards its body, through to powerful talons.

That now reach for me - I’m not up to this challenge!

I wake up in terror, my scream rents the night.

A HAND ON MY ARM! -  “Everything is all right.”

The voice of my wife breaks through the fear,

I begin to relax, and feel grateful she’s near.

Her hand strokes my face, brushes tears from my eye,

My arms go around her with a satisfied sigh.

Gentle words, feather touches, before finally we kissed.

We caressed, shared our love, through the dawn's early mist.