Silent and Dark
Not sure if I'm breathing,

Are my eyes open?...

No one else is here...
No one I can see.

      Darkness...
Nothing, but darkness,

No noises coming from elsewhere,
No noises coming from me...

Am I breathing?

I can't move to feel around...

Am I standing?

I try to sigh
To make a noise,
But I can't
I struggle and try to move,
But nothing happens...
My body tingles, but remains still...

I try to scream, but my mouth dares not utter,
As if thinks it ought not to.

Am I dying?
Am I already dead?

Try as I might, nothing happens...

     I am not dreaming...
     I know that I am awake
                And I am afraid...

Finally,
I sit up with a start,
Nearly screaming,
          Close to crying,
                   My body aching...
I've just escaped the terrible Grip,
That only by analogy,
              Can be described:

        Sleep Paralysis...
                 Is like
               Oblivion...