In the Night by Elizabeth Madox Roberts — Read

The light was burning very dim, / The little blaze was brown and red, / And I waked just in time to see / A panther going under the bed.

I saw him crowd his body down / To make it fit the little space. / I saw the streaks along his back, / And bloody bubbles on his face.

Long marks of light came out of my eyes / And went into the lamp -- and there / Was Something waiting in the room -- / I saw it sitting on a chair.

Its only eye was shining red, / Its face was very long and gray, / Its two bent teeth were sticking out, / And all its jaw was torn away.

Its legs were flat against the chair, / Its arms were hanging like a swing. / It made its eye look into me, / But did not move or say a thing.

I tried to call and tried to scream, / But all my throat was shut and dry. / My little heart was jumping fast, / I couldn't talk or cry.

And when I'd look outside the bed / I'd see the panther going in. / The streaks were moving on his back, / The bubbles on his chin.

I couldn't help it if they came, / I couldn't save myself at all, / And so I only waited there / And turned my face against the wall.