Nemesis of the Night

A poem about Sleep Paralysis

Photo by Sayan Ghosh on Unsplash

When the world melted into a deep slumber,

a solitary shade of jet-black stained the sky,

I prophesied wafting to a tranquil place,

unwittingly inviting the nemesis of the night.

It watched me traverse the realms of awareness,

barely hanging on to the confines.

I was soon reduced to a mere spectating vessel

for it to encroach and terrorize.

I watched my foe draw closer by the minute

and make a lunge at my inert anatomy.

A heftiness settled in the pit of my stomach

paralyzing every stab at breaking free.

A voiceless scream — a soundless howl,

ears ringing — eyes petrified.

When in time I re-entered the realm of life,

“Till next time”, whispered the nemesis of the night.