At night the dreams arise in fitful sleep
Emerging from some long forgotten fright,
Wanton creatures scavenging the deep
Disturb the quiet requiem of night.
They scutter from the hunter drawing near
Blindly thrash around upon the bed
As spiders turn to dust and disappear,
I know that this is all inside my head.
Then through the dark gray labyrinth a face
Seen perhaps just dimly far afield
The moment comes in solitary grace
When all these shadows fade and start to yield
To sunlight playing on a mountain lake,
The world becomes your smile — I’m awake.