To Sleep

Sleep, to sleep.
My soul bids 'Goodnight' and slumbers.
But my body stays awake, peering in darkness.
I quiver, delivering fear in a guise of hope.
Nightmares paralyze my heart; my body goes numb.
The vivid dreams become real.
I jerk in fear as a hand grips my shoulder.
I turn to see a tall demon grinning,
Grinning a smile that causes my spine to freeze.
My cries are sealed in my mouth.
My tears yearn to bleed.
As I fight to wake up, my soul is torn from my body.
Awakened by perilous fear and paralyzed,
I pray for help.
My body is quickened. I wake completely up,
relieved of my escape.
But as I begin to feel victorious,
the hand comes back on my shoulder.
I shudder as I turn around; the demon is smiling.
I realize that my dream was a warning of things to come.
Now my soul is being ripped from my body.
The demon begins to drag my soul
and the gates of hell are opened.