Mostly
The monsters that invade my sleep are human
Sometimes I know them
Sometimes they are glimmers of people that I feel as if I should know
Other times it is as if they were familiar to me in a past life

These nightmares startle me awake
In a drenching sweat
And I can’t get back to sleep
For what seems like half the night

My head remains full of overstimulating pictures
So much so that I can’t release myself from their trappings
Monsters linger in the dark corners of the room
Causing me to pull my arms and feet in close
Like a child
Lest they stray over the bed

While I don’t try to analyze the vast majority of these nightmares
I find that I must face the monsters
That I actually know in real life
Within the next few days or a week
To calm me

Otherwise
Anxiety plays cruel tricks behind my back
And I’m not very fun to be around