"Bite"

Degauss your vision -- make it right
seal the force lines, draw them tight
hold your breath with all your might
peel the darkness, shed some light.

Feel the memories, still the fright
tell the tale begun that night
soon emotions will take flight
send the sounds and show the sights

Headache pain around my eyes
but that is not a big surprise
they don't want to see the scene
I don't want to hear the screams.

Horror echoes in my dreams
worse than any movie screen
but "time lends distance" should be true
and I should not so fear the view.

No more spankings, no more fights
no more terror in the night
the future should be blissf'lly bright
if you can shake off the blight.

Feel your strength now, see your height
no more a child so frail and slight
but you won't be finished -- no, not quite
until at last the tale you write.

c. 1988, B. Riley