Welcome to “Writober,” a challenge hosted by Maria at Experience Writing.

Today’s chosen prompt “What sounds scare you? Think of a time you were startled by a sound, in the dark, alone at night. Describe it as clearly and with as much detail as you can. In your poem, try to recreate the fear you felt through only describing sounds.

Sounds in the Night

I lie in bed
darkness weighs
like a soft blanket
comforting. But then
I hear a creak,
was that a step?

Tapping tapping up the stairs
towards my bedroom,
the swishing of a cloak
against wall and door,
a muffled “ahem”
as if to warn me —

They are coming.