The Waking Up Poem by Isabelle Parkes

Who do you think I am when I wake you up in the middle of the night?
What do you think I’ll do when you look at me with such a momentary fright?
A thin sheen of sweat and your heart beat too rapid,
Your hand inside mine, the one thing that is placid,
Why is your sigh so relieved when you realise it’s me standing over you?
Just answer me this and I’ll leave you alone; is there anything I can do?

Don’t tell me you’re fine because I know it’s a lie,
The tears that don’t fall give you away every time,
Don’t tell me it’s alright, you don’t even know what that means;
Reading your face isn’t as hard as it seems.

What made you afraid of your shadow and wary of the light?
Who destroyed your confidence and took away the fight?
Self-conscious and careful wherever you go,
Untrusting of everyone you tell me you know,
What’s the difference between who you are and who you used to be?
Just let me say this and I’ll leave you alone; I want to set you free.

Have you ever held your arms out wide
and bargained with the skies?
When you’re screaming at something only you can see,
Who’s supposed to answer your cries?

How did you get this way?
Is there anything I can say to make the pain go away?
The only thing separating waking life and the nightmare is the waking up,
And people only start these things when they have the option to stop.
What is that’s so complicated that you cannot explain?
Just let me understand the hands that are driving you insane!

But the memories are too loud and you can’t hear my pleading,
Your soul is in two and these tears are the bleeding,
You used to be so beautiful, but lies made that a shame
And in your head, you’re stumbling, and crying out a name –

And now I’m clawing and fighting.
I won’t give you up.
And you’re yelling and shouting.
You’re not gonna stop.

Just let me in your head; I’ll beat the nightmares dead.