Monsters under the bed

there a monsters,
both real and imagined. who hasn't
known one
or two, or three
or four.

who hasn't as a child
looked under
the bed or in the closet
before going
to sleep?

left the hall light on.

there are demons and dragons,
goblins
and witches
throughout our life.

some real, some imagined,

some you know,
some you wish
you had never met,
and others,
who are waiting in the shadows

for their turn
to wreak havoc,
and dread.