Long ago when I was young
I had the same
two dreams at night.
I didn’t want to go to bed
Because there was the chance I might
Dream them again.
 
They were very realistic,
Every night they’d last and last:
The school bus dropped me off and I
Would run across our lawn real fast
Toward my house.
 
And just when I was almost there
A hand would reach up through the ground
And grab my leg and start to pull
Me down and down and down
And down.
 
I’d scream and scream, but no one heard me
“You’re not going anywhere!”
Said a gross and grinning grackle—
I never knew how he got there,
But he was.
 
And there were giant rats and roaches
scorpions, and stink bugs, too;
All of them crowded 'round me
And I’d struggle to get through.
I fought and fought.
 
But I never did get out
And so, I guess my mind switched gears
And started on this other dream
That also had me close to tears;
But it was short.
 
I was being chased by someone
When I raised up in the air—
Sort of flying but it seemed I
Wasn’t going anywhere;
And also
 
Instead of flying with legs out straight
They dangled down; I was too low.
I couldn’t make myself go higher
And “they” pulled me down, although
I kicked.
 
These dreams seemed to last forever
And still, today, I don’t know why
But I never told my parents.
I guess I didn’t because I
Was embarrassed.
 
 But I still remember them
From all those many years ago,
They were horrifying, but
Looking back, I think I know
What they meant.
 
I read somewhere that being chased
In dreams that often reoccur
Prob’ly means a guilty conscience
But, to what the dreams refer,
I have no clue.
 
I mean, back then, I was a child
In "grammer school"-- we called it, then,
I'm sure I wasn't always good, 
But those nightmares were akin
To torture!