I do not recognize myself in certain night of sleep,

when I am visited by unexpected nightmares,

tragic, ill-fated visions, coming from who knows where,

planted by who knows whom.

I intend, or rather, I firmly classify them

as alien to me, to my person, and to my very being,

for I grant them no harbor, thought, or desire,

during any hour or minute I spend awake,

in a full and grateful life of endless rejoicing.

They are home invaders lacking the courage

to appear in the light of day.

I wish competence and success to the psychologists,

psychiatrists, and doctors who may be called upon

by my fellow ones who happen to be afflicted

by such dark, nocturnal occurrences.

I rise in the morning, say my daily prayers,

shake off body and soul, throw away the bad memory,

and exorcise it, let it to return to where it was created,

it was never welcome here.

Then, I dare to adopt the words transcribed

in Luke 23:34 of the New Testament:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know

what they are doing”

This poem and all others at this blog, authored by Edilson Afonso Ferreira ©