The Anthem of my Childhood

The Anthem of my Childhood

Teletubbies.

Cyber Chase.

Lion King.

Bright lights.

Dark nights.

What I didn’t understand,

things that made me afraid to stand.

Hiding alone,

whispering prayers,

anything that would stop the nightmares.

Every day a struggle,

every time I took a tumble,

always there to fall again.

Finally home.

No longer alone.

the monster took a break.

And for pete’s sake,

left me alone.

Left me to sleep at home.

Then I was taken to the monster

for what reasons unclear,

but there I was being chased again

Such a nightmare returned again,

yet in my days there was light.

Something to stop the night

from taking over.

I got older,

the monster looked colder,

I could fight the beast now.

I was big enough,

and I knew I could be tough.

If only that realization had come sooner

I might have been able to avoid the crueler

aspects of the night.

With this new power,

I wielded my sword higher.

Never again would I let the monster win

When the monster knocked on the door,

I would not let it in.

When I discovered how to keep it out,

then I realized just how I turned out.

I still remember the dark, and the monster who lives there.

I see it from time to time, but it only stares.

I am the victor of our battles,

but I don’t want to tattle.

Such fear will always be the victor

no matter how I try to forget it.

But I don’t have a choice.

I lost my voice long ago.

All there is to do is wait.

Wait for the darkness to finally go straight.

And admit the wrong to save the right.

And finally end my long dark night.