The Old Hag

In a burst of mephitic vapors, she encompasses to fill the blackness of the room

She circles until she decides to finally halt, settling hard and heavy on my chest

In fear and disgust, I taste the bitter bile of my own blood as I'm put through a test

Enthralled in battle, it's freedom I seek and though awake, I see with unseeing eyes in the night

While only the breath of fear and crude laughter denote the unreality of my plight

Cynthia Calder, 10.04.24