Nightmare Poems | Examples

Premium Member Something Is In My Woods

shadows are running 
breaking bones under foot.
arm twisting branches snap
smearing their scent on contact.
resin oozes as blood,
the pungent sap tickles my nose hairs.
a rustling voice whispers movement.
the fresh earthen breath kisses mine.
my eyes peer into the hidden darkness
as I start peeling the shadows, but
stop my curiosity from going further.
crepuscular rays slice into the woods
verifying our little girl’s nightmares.
grandma’s kiss on my forehead
sets me upright, in bewilderment.

thuh bard'z winter tale 'nightmare'

.

                                                         wool
                                                   twill weave
                                                    cardiganz 
                                                  harem pants
                                                        boots
                                                      hoodiez
                                                    aran coats
                                                        dents
Form: Epigram


Premium Member A Nuptial Nightmare

I had a dream the other night
that had me smiling with delight:
A couple with their backs to me
were taking vows of holy matrimony.
My delight turned to suspicion, for lo!
for the minister presiding was Waldo 
Emerson? Then the couple in solemn tone
said “I do” pledging their love to each alone,
as they turned to face the congregation
applauding with joyous acclamation.
That’s when I recognized the bride
as none other than Amheart’s pride
Emily Dickinson, the eccentric
poet-spinster, the groom the pseudo rustic
Henry David Thoreau, of Walden Pond! 
But even the best of unions are not beyond
the paranormal. And when he took her
to his self-built “mansion”,on seeing it 
she grew pale and pleaded loudly in a fit: 
Take me back to my father’s house this night
there’ll be no wild nights in this shack tonight!

Premium Member Nightmare Overwhelm Street

Uncle "Nightmare" Sam Says...

Tonight's the Night I Slash your Dreams,

Daylight Madness and Midnight Screams!

No Bells of Mercy Will be Tolled,

Your Screams to Me, Worth More than Gold!

I'll Haunt Your Dreams, to Scratch My Itches,

Till Tomorrow Night...Hugs and Stitches!
Form: Rhyme

Premium Member Twilight Zone

What ruse is so effective
that someone blatantly perverse
can succeed all so easily
to convince one after the other
to give it all up
to trade in their integrity
to renege on their values
to turn their back on any moral compass
to literally sell their soul to the devil

And… have the gall to walk among us
still with their head held high ?

Seems like we’ve entered an alternate reality
beyond the stretch of imagination
where nightmares are the new norm.



AP: Honorable Mention 2025


Premium Member Twinkle, Twinkle

Gleaming diamonds that dot the skies
Peering through the night with trillions of eyes
Behind crescent smiles, you wink a distant threat 
Oh, faceless gaze, how I wonder what you're looking at

You come with shrouds that cloak our sun
As hellfire burn behind the black you've spun
You weave the constellations like gossamer webs
While in wide-eyed wonder, we meander into your nets

Travelers crossing the night have leaned on you so
For your twinkling fingers point which way to go
But as your blinking orbs appraise their every move
You chart our world—every corner, every groove

Trillions of eyes cut across the darkness deep
Tendrils of light rain upon us while we sleep
While crescent grimace whisper into our dreams
Oh, twinkle, twinkle, draw us closer into your seams
Form: Other

Susie Q’s Nightmare

As the world unfurls
iN REMbrandt's muddy pastel
Little Susie curls her knees
right on cue, credence that
there's clear water here, a
revival of Hawkins and
Burton's swamp spell

When I tried to leave her
dream, she called back:
'Freddy, come save me'
I know that it's cruel to
replace her, though her
night terrors are negotiated,
I awaken her fears
Form: Sonnet

Premium Member Nightmare

Seeping and crawling came my fear.
I couldn’t see it very clear.
Tension mounting as it came near,
Transforming it into a tear.

Anxiously waiting, couldn’t hear,
My eyes were staring with a leer.
Then I felt it, it seemed so clear.
Arriving quickly, it was here.

Shimmering, I felt it unfold.
Negative thoughts had taken hold.
Anguish entered into the fold.
I’ll get the light; I must be bold.

What has given me such a scare?
Just another stupid nightmare.
Form: Sonnet

Premium Member Peace of Mind


In the mere blink of a nightmare, I found myself rechained 
and trapped where my peace of mind had once before 
collapsed.

The die has been cast, an old challenge from the past, one 
I thought long ago smashed, has incited another battle and
painfully thrashed my peace of mind like collateral damage 
to aloofly leave behind.

It’s twenty-seven years later, and I’m altogether strength-wise 
lesser for this matter.  I’ve got mighty prayers but the sum-total 
of tassels for the best in life have battered and frayed my energy.  
It is retired and at rest, not lying in wait for another day or test.  
Now, I’ve no choice but to fake it, declare it is just hiding and 
there’s no abiding such when it's time for fighting.  

I know I screamed denial, felt a heavy weight disintegrate all 
to black. I remember holding him, sharing a crying jag while 
watching my peace of mind pack. 

My very heart, my special needs son, now full grown and still 
at home, woke me in the night in a state of fright, “Mama, I 
think I just had a seizure.”  The next day came four more and 
my peace of mind took its suitcase out the door.

I DREAM

As my body shakes violently,
                      In the midst of sound sleep;
                                 Naked and alone 
                         Lying on the cold concrete...
                        This reality of my nightmare, 
                                          I DREAM...

Premium Member Of A Confused Nightmare Dream

Of A Confused Nightmare Dream
(A Thought Provoking Tanka Trio)

Is sleeping dreamless,
Short-lived life’s resurrection,
Or death’s fantasy?
Can living fake its own death
In confusing nightmare dreams?

I thought I was dead.
Do the dead have dreams of life
Or just it’s nightmares?
Irrespective of it all,
It all seems so confusing:-

In life’s awareness,
Sleep can be as confusing,
As “the living dead”:
Is it possible for a dead mind
To have living thoughts like these?
Form: Tanka

Nightmare

Dark
         shapes
       twist and
      crawl in the
    corners of my
   mind. Silent
    whispers fill
     the air, cold
    and choking.
     A breath
     catches, then
     slips away as
    I reach for the
   light that’s too
    far to touch.
     Eyes watch
       from the
     depths of the
     void. I can’t
      move, can’t
      scream. I'm
    trapped inside
    the suffocating
      storm of my
     own fear, lost
   in a place where
     shadows never
     leave and hope
       fades to dark.
Form: Concrete

Premium Member Nightmare of falling

Eye's closed fast asleep in a nightmare  I am breathing deep

Decending spinning never hitting the ground

I am trying to Scream but I'm making no sound.

Voices that taunt me they come from my past

I can't see their faces as I am Falling to fast 

I reach out for something to help stop my fall

I grab in to the darkness but there is nothing at all

When will my time come and I hit the floor

 must I awake from my sleep then I will fall no more
Form: Rhyme

Premium Member Nightmare

Myriad of wired scenes consumes me
Stained by Hades , shadows lurk 
Within a lunar widescreen of a dream---
Voices raking with madness...lost
On phosphorus wisp of evening

Despite frail  light in the shade-
Bleak visions cascade on damp floor
Ghastly these shadows crawling
Through serpentine weaves , as if
To pluck my soul, their angst unreleased:

I slither into deeper caves of dreams
Rummaging my last trails of grace,
My faith begging for prayers to lilt...
Until my body wakes, rocking gently
Changing macabre hours into twirls
Of calm,  a behest from morning god 
While I finally slay my own ghosts.

1st place

Nightmare

In my dream the deception was deep,
This girl was healed through the enemy,
And everyone believed that this healing came from God,
She was showing proof that her sickness was gone,
She was passing around a rope that was plated in the middle with gold,
But the rest of the rope looked rugged and old,
I knew it looked strange as she passed it around,
As if she was endorsing others to use this rope she had found,
She said she placed it around her neck and God healed her instantly,
And I heard God whisper don't touch it, the rope is the disease,
He spoke to me clearly and went on to explain,
The rope is a trick and a noose to kill others this way,
The healing was sorcery to draw in more souls,
Used for the enemy to kill in number..he also tricked the girls soul.

Related Poems

Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Hide Ad