The Dream Thief (Poetry)

He crept in through the bedroom door
as quiet as smoke — nobody knew
or guessed what he had come there for
so they slept on without a clue

He stood and listened to their sighs
the rumbling snore, the odd low moan
some mouths gaped open catching flies
while others tossed and turned alone

His eyes and ears were keen and sharp
to pick up signs — the twitching lid
showed secret movies in pitch dark
whatever dreams the long night hid

He tuned in to each reel of thought
and tugged it free — shut down the screen
those random images he caught
then pocketed so quick and clean

He stole imagination’s child
kidnapped every wish and whim
however fanciful or wild
some vague ideas trailed after him ...

Poor sleepers left with empty heads
awoke at dawn, its light unkind
and lay like zombies in their beds
the weight of loss on each dull mind