My Demons

By John A. Wilson

Tiny red eyes peer out at me

From the corners of my soul.

Silently they watch, always alert

From each dark fetid hole.

Through morning, noon and eventide

A careful watch I stand,

Like a sentry alone and frightened

In a dark foreboding land.

I must keep alert and waver not

In this lonely vigil I keep

For if I allow them a moment alone

Into my thoughts they’ll creep.

And once inside what havoc they’ll wreak

As they slither about my mind

And down to the core of my sanity

Their way they soon shall find.

And madness shall rule me totally

To the real world I’ll be lost.

So against them I keep my vigil

For I cannot afford the cost.

So my watch fires are always burning

And I keep them ever at bay

In the deep, dark corners of my mind

And there insure they’ll stay.