Night Mare Corralled

She lays there, wearily dreaming
shifting without rest, restless sleep.
Sweat on her brow is shining, gleaming.
Watching her struggle, my heart wants to weep

What kind of awful nightmare lurks
inside her mind, normally so calm?
What causes the twitches and the quirks?
What can I do to ease, to balm?

Are these night-terrors ones I have had?
Do we share a common demon or spirit?
Does she spend wakeful nights this bad?
When I cry out, does she hear it?

Bound by love I move to wake her
to kiss her lips and stifle her cries.
I reach over and gently shake her
she starts and turns her head in surprise.

Why did you wake me? What's going on?
I said you were crying and keening in fear
I had to wake you, so the terrors be gone
that kind of moaning, I never want to hear

She turns over, her slumber recommenced
I cradle her torso, happily spooning.
The terror is over, the Night Mare's been fenced.
I hum a lullaby, quietly crooning.