Valley

Looking out over

bare trees,

Sunlight sparkles

on frosty carpet.

Smoke rises

from deep below.

Or is it mist ?

Drifting

My vision blurs

Despite the beauty

I'm not at peace.

Something troubles

this paradise.

The silence is heavy

Oddly no birdsong...

Then

Sudden

Thunder

Or is it ?

Only then do i see them

Strung out in a line...

Hunters

Emerging slowly from below...

They've come to

Kill

What ?

Surely not !

Their dogs are yapping,

Sudden wing beats,

Violent flapping,

Bang bang bang

Squawking, honking

& it's all over...

I'm bolt upright

Sweating.

Heartbeat racing,

Temples thumping...

Then realisation slowly

dawns,

Only a daymare...

Just my demons

Within

Come to play

in my mind's

Valley.

Patrick D Thomas

06^th January 2008