The Dungeon And Demons Poem by Joaquin Santana

Awakening…….in a state of confusion, not knowing where I am, or how I got here.
I try to focus my eyes using what little light that seems to appear.
Alas, I cannot see anything around me.
Fear of what lurks in the dark consumes me.
My other senses begin to take over in order to compensate for my uncertainty of the unknown.
In the air is the stench of mildew and funk as my sense of smell begins to hone.
As I listen, I can hear the sound of water dripping.
I feel around and notice giant cinder blocks to my left crumbling and splitting.
As I turn to my right I fell abruptly.
I sit still listening, and now feel something touching me corruptly.
Afraid of what it could be,
My reflexes take control forcing me to kick violently.
Hearing a loud squeak and sounds of scampering, I realize it was a rodent.
All the while the stench of corrosion and mildew becomes more potent.
As I continue feeling around I realize I fell off a bench connected to the wall.
I wonder, "How did I get here? Could I have possibly been drugged at all? "
I investigate my surroundings further, and notice bars running vertically.
As I grasp the bars little critters scamper over my fingers erratically.
I pull away quickly with sheer disgust.
It seems I am in a dungeon of some sort, with the telltale sign of must.
Suddenly I see light that I had not seen before.
There are rows of church pews, a podium, and these bars must be the door.
Somehow I manage to squeeze through the bars into peace and serenity.
Such a feeling of relief, I no longer feel the lowly sense of pity.
As I stand in the back of the church I notice a door to my left.
People began to walk in looking sullen and bereft.
Suddenly I notice my mother in front with her head down, sobbing.
I wonder what is wrong and thought, "My poor mother", with my heart throbbing.
I begin to walk along the right lane and squeeze through the row behind her.
When I asked what was wrong she looked at me with a sense of demure.
As she said nothing, one by one, everyone else began to stare at me as well.
I begin to quickly backtrack, sensing something was amiss that I could not quell.
As I reach the back of the church I notice something odd.
Looking at the door I notice everyone coming in had a twin, triplet, and even a quad.
As I look to the front again suddenly I seen everyone's true colors.
They all changed to demons; Vile and disgusting bloodsuckers.
Fearful for my life, I race back to the seclusion of my dungeon.
But to my horror they simply walk through the bars by the dozens!
Panicking with nowhere to go, I turn to stand on my bench made of wood.
To my surprise someone was laying there, an ally, which would be good.
As he slept with his back to me I realize it is my brother, even better!
When he turns I see he is one of them, simply acting as a fetter.
I'm now cornered and close my eyes to accept my fate of being devoured!
I think to myself, "If only I wasn't such a coward."
Suddenly I sit up in a cold wet sweat, with my heart pumping to the extreme!
To my relief it was all just a horrific dream!
I have another chance to grow courage, live life, and improve my self-esteem.