Constance La France Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Free Verse/Internal Paralysis
Copyright 05-1825-451-24-26
All Rights, Constance La France
Plagiarism Prohibited.

Penned, May 24, 2026/ Human Written
For the International Contest, Pick-A-Title, Vol. 57
Sponsor, Edward Ibeh, Judged 06/10/2026

Second Place

(The Nightmare, by Henry Fuseli, 1781)

Internal Paralysis

I have had nightmares of demons and hallucinations
      in the pitch dark of night
    leaving me paralyzed
      with fright and fear
          unable to speak words but screaming
      unable to move away
from a hellish imp creature
        his skin like a slithering snake
    his voice a hissing in the night
            a head upon a fat distorted body
          oh, horrible disgusting creature
     and another creature hovers
                     the hidden shape of a black horse
                         friend or foe

          internally I am frozen and unable to wake up
              I am stuck in a terrifying scene
everything in my bedroom is surreal and distorted
                        with the power of will I wake
                             weeping in my bed
    I can smell him
feel his hands on my body stroking
I must have a shower to wash off his stink
that is when I see the bruises and hand prints
                     how is this possible
                          now, I keep the lights on
     have become sleep deprived . . .

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Edward Ibeh June 10, 2026 at 11:05 AM Dark, harrowing write. You really shine in these types of themes, Constance. I loved your poem. Heartiest congratulations on your win in my contest. Constance La France June 11, 2026 at 2:06 PM Edward, thank you for the contest and my placement and for the compliment and congratulations ~

Tom Cunningham May 25, 2026 at 8:30 AM Quite a dark and foreboding write Constance. Have read its something many suffer from Tom Constance La France June 6, 2026 at 3:24 PM Tom, yes, it is dark for me to write, but I do have nightmares at times, just not this one ~

Constance La France May 24, 2026 at 4:52 PM Fictional dear friends, do not worry, just a bit of drama