Where Shadows Refuse To Dance

Locking the door is useless,
for he has a key...

Will that sliver of light
become a wider slice tonight,
or not?

Bed sheet covers are but flimsy barriers,
easily thrown off
by hands—

Hard working hands 
that roam where they should not

Tuck you to bed,
tell you a fairy tale before you sleep,
kiss you good night.

They all hold different meanings,
they always do.

The moon is a silent witness,
peeking through the windows,
where shadows refuse to dance...
but creep
Innocent eyes of a doll
that weep

“Shhh,” he says
“This is love.”

But the pounding heart,
the screaming mind
know otherwise.

This isn’t love.
It never was.

The moon can only scream in silence
with her.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun crashes in,
dissolving the darkness
but it never matters,
for the nightmare continues...


She’s there at the stove, cooking
eggs sunny-side up
He reads the newspaper 
with a smile

Yet tears start to pool
as a timid voice says,
“Please, Mommy...
Why don’t you believe me?
The Boogie Man is real.”





September 16, 2011
091620111025p1050
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Davis Avatar
March 2, 2014 at 12:40 PM
Binibining This is a powerfully deep and intense write. Gave me chills reading it. Thanks for the Birthday wishes and nice comment on my Birthday poem.
Richards Avatar
June 10, 2013 at 6:58 PM
Oh wow..........this is so chilling.....because, unfortunately, I'm afraid there is such truth......heartbreaking truth! You ended this perfectly, my friend. Always the most creative poet I know :)
A  Avatar
June 10, 2013 at 2:07 PM
congrats in Roy's contest............. SKAT
Tams The Golden Girl Avatar
June 10, 2013 at 1:23 PM
Congratulations on your win binibining xx
Jerden Avatar
June 10, 2013 at 12:55 PM
Congratulations on the win, Nikko. Very disturbing. I'll be posting a blog with additional comments. Cheers, Roy
Brown Avatar
March 2, 2012 at 7:00 AM
It is always a pleasure to read your poetry Nikko. I want to thank you today for your kind words on my writing. Your words are appreciated more then you know. I did not get any of my poems back. I do have some that I had copied and saved so I can add them back to my Soup list. Thank you so much for trying to help. Love, Carol
A   Avatar
October 21, 2011 at 10:06 AM
dance dance dance you little monky
Winter Avatar
October 7, 2011 at 4:26 PM
wow Nikko. yes, monsters are real. so proud of you for writing this and so well done. hope this is not personal, I know too many who live with the sadness of a lost childhood. they are the most loving parents even so, by what grace there may be. just wanted to thank you for your comment, and no it is not about anything recent, though it is about someone in my life. love to you sweet friend. hugs, shar xoxo
Jones Avatar
September 24, 2011 at 6:14 PM
ouchymonga... I work at a hospital, we see the worst of these cases and they're gut wrenching and heart-breaking... and WAY more wide-spread than just the ones that end up needing serious medical intervention... beautifully writ, Rio! Beauty day to ya. Namaste~N
Phookan Avatar
September 23, 2011 at 6:08 AM
Hi (nikko?)/Rio..mind boggling how you keep changing yourself,!!! So, how are you dear?Long... time!! Was craving to read some nice poems and so happy and glad to have found you and this brilliant piece of writing..Kudos to you for taking this up, a difficult and delicate topic. And the way you have put it across,,I'm so impressed. Simply outstanding!!! Love to you always, gautami
The Rogue Rhymer Avatar
September 20, 2011 at 1:24 AM
Wow Nikko-that is FANTASTIC! Very well worded w/ a shocking ending.
Austin Avatar
September 19, 2011 at 6:00 PM
Yep! There are two kinds of love, one just for fun, the other for friendship and respect as well as pleasure. The one for fun can be a few minutes worth of lifelong misery. Good write. Love, daver
Song Avatar
September 18, 2011 at 3:09 AM
Nikko--this is raw and emotive! You address a difficult subject with excellent creativity. Hope the poor bastard who plays the role of the Boogie Man is rotting in jail somewhere with the key in the bottom of the ocean. Always a pleasure to read from your diverse and purposeful pen. Gwendolen
Austin Avatar
September 17, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Marriage, the boogie man. Yes, and too often - too many 60-40 situations. Good to see you back. Love, daver
Wesley Avatar
September 17, 2011 at 9:07 AM
The darker moment shine through this intriguing verse. The images disturb in an evocative way. You probe the mind with this one Nikko.
Marcum Wong Avatar
September 17, 2011 at 7:42 AM
Nikko, a very poignant and disturbing piece, yet it is written with honesty and the compassion of an understanding heart. So many suffer in silence and it is poems like this that give voice to those who suffer. Outstanding!
Sweetheart Avatar
September 16, 2011 at 4:15 PM
wow such a passionate write expressing great emotional feelings Nikko.. luv the presentation so stunning luv... and thankxx for spelling boo boos... oh and to think I used to get perfect scores on my spelling in school..my teacher must be turning over somewhere..luv..thankxx a million ..
Horsman Avatar
September 16, 2011 at 3:54 PM
brings back a lot of my childhood fears, nikko, this is a unusual subject for a poem, yet it is an awesome read. harry
Horne Avatar
September 16, 2011 at 2:05 PM
My, what a powerful poem, my friend. A very close friend was a victim of abuse and she's still affected. This piece is just awesome
Onclaud Avatar
September 16, 2011 at 2:04 PM
nikks, nakaka-miss ka... this is a tough topic to handle---denial of something as grave as an immoral allianace with a kin--and yet you pulled through with subtle, cryptic messages... well-done; gave me the chills!.. hope i got it right though this is subject to many interpretations ( which is good).. best of luck if for a contest, sounds like this is for debbie's.. :) huggs and keep on spinning.. tama na ang tago mo, lol!
Dietrich Avatar
September 16, 2011 at 12:04 PM
sorry I got sidetracked just now. In a few moments I'll have that soupmail for ya.
Dietrich Avatar
September 16, 2011 at 11:54 AM
NIkko, is this for the haunted house entry? It sure could be an entry since it is certainly creepy and much more real than a ghost house. It is true terror for the child. I really liked reading this. You have a great way of letting a story evolve and then coming up with the super end line delivery. yeah, I saw that typo and was too lazy to correct it. soupmail.
Poet Avatar
September 16, 2011 at 11:32 AM
An emotional write here Nikko.So true the above words are.Liked it.
Poet Avatar
September 16, 2011 at 11:24 AM
Thanks for the New poem.Now I am going to read it!
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