As little children,
we feared the monsters
under the bed.
Sent to devour us as we slept,
they held us captive
in the dark.
As adults, the monsters
remain, always lurking
in our memory:
magazine pictures of places
never visited, baby clothes
for a child never born.
They remain in boxes
gathering dust, permanent
reminders of things
never accomplished,
tucked away next to the luggage
and out of season linens.
As little children,
we feared the monsters
under the bed.
As adults, they haunt
us, out of sight,
but no longer imaginary.