phobia pantoum

phobia pantoum
By Adriana Barker

a shadow man approaches me in the parking lot.
Don’t fall asleep.
he moans of a time the world forgot.
You people forget your nightmares too fast.

Don’t fall asleep.
his cheek stretches into tiny holes, caverns of dark.
You people forget your nightmares too fast.
spiders scrabble up over his collar, darken his neck.

an eye turns yellow, pops with pus.
Let the chill race up your spine — don’t forget how to fear.
glowing maggots glisten, thicken his hair with whiteness.
Be careful, my child, don’t choke on your screams.

Let the chill race up your spine — don’t forget how to fear.
dark, thick blood cakes his outstretched palms.
Be careful, my child, don’t choke on your screams.
his clothes are soaked, drowned in mud.

around his mouth, faded red paint fakes a big smile.
Don’t fall asleep.
One by one, his limbs turn dark, and he fades into black.
You people forget your nightmares too fast.