Tête-à-tête

God is alone, - but the devil, he is far from being alone; he sees a great deal of company; he is legion. - Thoreau

The Nightmare, by Henry Fuseli (1781) is thought to be

one of the classic depictions of sleep paralysis

perceived as a demonic visitation.

back and forth

dragging steel cups along the bars you forged

just to bend your ears and ignite your fears

coming in the dark nights of your mind

pulling out all the stops

dancing and laughing

mocking and faffing

casting aspersions wide in a trapping net

filling you up with an empty threat

infusing your essence with regret

making you fret and sweat

demanding you pay an unpayable, crushing debt

never letting you forget

and the nerve of them

demanding a tête-à-tête

Author's Note

"The greater part of what my neighbors call good I believe in my soul to be bad, and if I repent of anything, it is very likely to be my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well? You may say the wisest thing you can, old man, - you who have lived seventy years, not without honor of a kind, - I hear an irresistible voice which invites me away from all that." - Thoreau