For All Children, Who Should Never Have To Be Afraid

It comes expected as another fall
from your bike, or sudden sinking, how to swim
forgotten as the spell to rescue you
from what you know will come each night in dreams

you dread, invented rules’ protection from
that face you can’t believe the grinning monster
waiting just inside the door you must not
risk before counting each step in order–

three up, three down, three up, then, silent, count
to seven, that perfect number, and, cautious, turn
the nob and take the final step you think
the threshold passed, maybe safe at home,

then comes that laugh, and you are out of numbers
again, you’ve come up short.