Branches of Death

they reach out
beastly in the night
tapping at the window

rain keeps static
thunder rattles my bones

fear becomes so suffocating
i think

maybe
i should just open the window
and let the monsters take me

then
the guts summon up
something monstrous of their own

perhaps it is courage
or a delusion of bravery

i open the window
roar my mightiest roar
and all of the ghastly things are frozen
into wooden sculptures