I just woke up from my reoccurring night terror. There is always a period of recovery to go through before I can move on with my day.


Silent Scream

My own little horror movies-
that’s the description I give,
from one who has never,
ever been brave enough
to watch one, knowing
no actor’s fear could touch
what grips me in the dark.

In the recurring one
I am asleep, and then
I simply know,
sense his presence,
malevolent silence-
he is in the room.

I am going to die.

My body turns to stone.
My mouth opens,
voicing screams
that go nowhere.

Then I wake. Shaken.
Take quick breaths
as my heart beats
a staccato of fear.
The ghost has vanished,
leaving the terror as his gift,
the one he perfected.

My mind remembers
what I lived through.
My body keeps the record,
those nights when the danger
was not a dream at all,
when I lay still
for the same reason,
and thought:
this is it.




Poetry by Melinda K Zarate The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 114 times
star mini Editors' choice
Written on 2026-04-29 at 15:03

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dee quirke
Powerful the screams no one can hear
2026-05-17


Sameen The PoetBay support member heart!
Aww I hope yer feeling well.
2026-05-07


Griffonner The PoetBay support member heart!
Sometimes these dreamtime experiences can be so very powerful, that they 'infect' the day. Your poem describes such an event, worse when it is a recurring one, and how you are effected by it. My reading of this poem leads me to think that there is an association between the dream and something that happened to you in real life. I hope that this dream is over and done with, if not now, very soon. Blessings, Allen
2026-05-04


Editorial Team The PoetBay support member heart!
Your poem has been chosen to be featured on the home page of PoetBay. Thank you for posting on our poetry website!
2026-05-04


arquious The PoetBay support member heart!
Night terrors are quite the awful to go through. Hope all is better now 🕊️🙏
2026-04-30