Midnight Paranoia Poem by Nika McGuin

Midnight paranoia, once again is here
it keeps me steadily losing sleep
nightly with me, is the constant fear
that darkness, into my room might creep

Now every night, I must talk myself into sleeping
afterwards, I take to distraction - in whatever form
otherwise over my shoulder, I'd be constantly peeping
with covers up to my neck, I finally ease into a sleep easily torn

For me it's not uncommon, these days
to startle myself awake in panic at midnight
and I know, I am aware, the threat is likely far away
- half imagined - maybe... but that doesn't end my paranoid fright