I Know What It's Like

I used to have a recurring dream In it, I was running  I mean, I was attempting to flee  From a man with a gun Who tried to shoot me Terror was gripping me When my legs went numb, and I stumbled Then he closed the distance between us His eyes were full of anger and sheer panic tore me from under  those deep bonds of slumber Still, I dare not go directly back to sleep Because I know he is still waiting  in the shadows of my next dream But this time, awake and aware It was neither a dream nor a nightmare But there I was right in the midst I know what it is like to die Now, I know it can occur anytime As the sun climbs upon the sky Then, the world turns into darkness That it did with me, at least When a large handgun he raised  and aimed it at my face I no sooner looked down the barrel then, it suddenly burst into flames He stood several feet ahead in that moment, I knew I would be dead That’s when everything went dark Except something happened  that shattered the eternal sleep It was me, and I heard myself screaming Then I knew I was yet alive If I wanted to keep breathing I knew I had to think and I must get moving quickly Never before could I imagine  myself in such a predicament I am safety conscious and we reside in the High Desert  with relatively low crime rates Moreover, I am a single mother I have three small individuals  who depends upon me Had I any premonition when I awoke  And prepared children for school What would occur just four hours later, I would give them lengthier hugs when I took them to their bus stop  Since it would be a long time  until they would see me The way I was back then Even if they ever do again