Sleep Easy

By Caspar Walsh

We knew trouble before it knew us
And shaped ourselves to it.

We waited at night, holding our breath
Listening for the light outside the bedroom door
To be switched off.

Lying still
In the thickening dark
We watched our shadows
Come alive.

__________

In time, we figured out how to survive
These night visiting terrors.

In time - we figured out the world outside
Our bedroom walls
Was far more dangerous.

So we struck a trembling deal
And took our monsters with us
Into the streets and up into the hills
Tucked inside our jacket pocket.

We knew trouble before it knew us
And shaped ourselves to it.

These magical monsters
Our magical monsters
Who changed everything -
Sleep easy now
Under our beds.