believing in monsters

children believe
in monsters.

their imaginations run wild
as they lie

in bed trying to go to sleep.
the movie
has scared them.

they listen to the wind
out side.
the branches scraping
against

the side of the house.
the slamming of shutters.

an owl in a tree.
I used to believe in monsters
too.

but not those kind,
the imaginary sorts, but the
human types,
ones
that have slept

in my bed.
next to me.