Worst Fear

I’m back in my childhood’s home 
in its dank and dismal cellar
walking warily, unsteadily down
                                        ancient 
                                         narrow
                                          stairs.
The old-time wash machine with wringer
stands there in       the center             of the gloom
as I remember well it always used to.
Above me is the hanging bulb 
         with my late step-dad’s makeshift switch
which once I was electrocuted by (strange current went surging
from my fingers to the middle of my arm).

My eyes are just beginning to adjust.
                           But still it is so black.
Something’s in this room with me.
            I sense, I do not see   malignancy -
It’s omniscient; omnipresent 
                      and pressing onto me.
A bat is fluttering eerily;
                I know this, and yet I cannot see its wheeling frantic wings.
I make my way
                        so     slowly   to  the  bulb 
                    suspended from the low and cobwebbed ceiling.
Reaching out I grasp the switch,
             and a face appears suddenly before me.
Fear washes over my entire being. . . 

Satan has me!

(This was, in fact, a nightmare, the worst I ever had. Nothing else ever came close!)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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12
Guzzi Avatar
September 26, 2017 at 4:37 PM
Thanks for the entry Andie & wow that was an awful fear! Congrad's & Light & Love
Sergi Avatar
September 6, 2017 at 7:43 PM
Hi Andrea: Wow! How eerily the words creep on the page slowly and creepy and then a face! Congratulations on your win.
Pandit Avatar
September 4, 2017 at 9:08 PM
Congrats Andrea!
Canerdy Avatar
September 4, 2017 at 9:03 PM
Whew! How terrifying and how well-written! Mt worst nightmare was about--believe it or not--whippoorwills! CONGRATS! Janice
Johnson-Saunders Avatar
February 25, 2017 at 1:23 AM
Wow. Andrea, this is scary stuff in an excellent free verse! I think the scariest movie I ever saw was The Omen, and yes, it gave me nightmares. Thank God I dont remember them in detail! Congrats on your win!! Hugs, Rhonda
U.D Palawon  Avatar
February 22, 2017 at 8:54 PM
Such a bad experience down childhood lane...Well penned. Congrats.
Krampe Avatar
February 22, 2017 at 6:39 PM
Sounds definitely creepy and scary! Congrats on your placement.
Vinson Avatar
February 22, 2017 at 4:04 PM
Andrea, that's classic - a dark, dank cellar...
Godwin Avatar
February 22, 2017 at 2:37 PM
Congrats on this pivotal placement - I was so happy to see it. I bet your feet could not move in the dream ??? Enjoyed the poem and the chills they grew on and in me. Love ... CayCay
Carmack Avatar
April 20, 2015 at 12:47 PM
The doorways we open for them. This reminds me once, after finishing one his books. Three of his cohorts did visit, but it wasn't in a dream. Hugs, Rob.
Brown Avatar
May 4, 2012 at 9:39 AM
Congratulations on your win in the "Stranded/Ghosts" contest Andrea. Love, Carol
Burch Avatar
May 4, 2012 at 12:11 AM
Congratulations on your win Andrea!! great time a day what a nightmare!! :O poor baby!! the exocist cured me from watching those movies...I used to love watching them till that one...lol no more...I'm glad it was only a dream!! big hugs, love ya, deb
Tams The Golden Girl Avatar
May 3, 2012 at 12:50 PM
A cut and paste apology for a cogratulations message but congrats. Am on holiday with limited access xx
Marcum Wong Avatar
May 2, 2012 at 3:04 PM
Congratulations on your win Andie. I loved the intrigue in your nightmare that wrote this poem. Shudders and shadows! Great writing! Love, Lotus
Guzzi Avatar
May 2, 2012 at 2:43 PM
That was one scary movie!!! Congrad's on your win. Light & love
Beck Avatar
August 28, 2011 at 6:59 PM
oh by the way..i was only able to send Debbie PART ONE of the INTO THE STORM piece (soup software is limited)....but the real ending of the story is in PART TWO of INTO THE STORM, which you may perhaps enjoy.....best wishes
Beck Avatar
August 28, 2011 at 6:56 PM
scary dream like atmosphere......that electric stuff is something i recall too....unpleasant episode.....congratulations on your placing....I dont often write but i read a lot of you r stuf f Andrea its all high quality and I enjoy it a lot...best wishes Syd
K. Avatar
August 28, 2011 at 12:56 AM
Aaack!!! Oh my gosh! and i read your comment in Chris' of how this was a real dream?? This sure was a suspenseful write (gosh I wonder how you woke up? Screaming or all rattled maybe?) What a very eerie dream! Wonderfully written! That mention of the bat reminded me of that dream I had when I was screaming since I saw a baby bat inside the house & yup it flew right into my open mouth! Haha! & thank you very much for your inspiring comments in mine :D Made me smile so much ^_^ hugs to you!
Sweetheart Avatar
August 27, 2011 at 10:45 PM
Congrats Andrea on your wonderful win with this magnificent poetry my friend.. super ..enjoy..luv...
Kendrick Avatar
August 27, 2011 at 7:50 PM
Congrats on your win..Sure am glad that it is not true..Sara
Brown Avatar
August 27, 2011 at 7:41 PM
Congratulations on your well deserved placement in Debbie Guzzi's "Dream On" contest Andrea. Love, Carol
Richards Avatar
August 27, 2011 at 6:20 PM
Yikes.....!!! I hope you will wake up soooon!!!!!!! Great poem, Andrea!!! Congrats!!
Poet Avatar
February 5, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Scarry image of childhood !Nice write--kash
Whitlock-Ishway Avatar
January 2, 2011 at 4:32 AM
Wow Andrea, this is quite a memory honey! The imagery is outstanding; I felt I was taking that walk in the cellar with you. What a frightful experience this must have been to endure as a child. Thank you for your entry... Lay
Ryerson Avatar
April 23, 2010 at 2:05 PM
'Something's in this room with me'...Wow! Reminds me of something right out of a Hitchcock movie!...We had the same type cellar in the house where I grew up...the washing machine was one of those antiques with a wringer on top...Great and scary stuff, Andrea! (Don't touch that switch!!) - Tim
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