The Dark
Listen to Jacqueline ...
Dark is scary
and I’m never going to believe you when you say
there’s something calm and beautiful about the night
because I know
there are monsters hiding under the bed
there are ghosts lurking at the top of the stairs
there are wild creatures waiting outside the back door
so please don’t tell me
there’s nothing to be afraid of
because
it’s terrifying
and nothing you can say will convince me
dark is exciting
Now start at the end and read back up.
and I’m never going to believe you when you say
there’s something calm and beautiful about the night
because I know
there are monsters hiding under the bed
there are ghosts lurking at the top of the stairs
there are wild creatures waiting outside the back door
so please don’t tell me
there’s nothing to be afraid of
because
it’s terrifying
and nothing you can say will convince me
dark is exciting
Now start at the end and read back up.
This poem is copyright (©) Jacqueline Shirtliff 2026
About the Writer
Jacqueline Shirtliff
Jacqueline is a poet and primary school teacher on the Isle of Man. One of her favourite things is helping children to love poetry and reading and encouraging them to be writers themselves. She lives in a rose-covered cottage near the sea and enjoys gardening, crochet, and playing the tuba and harp, but not all at the same time! You can read some of her other poems in The Caterpillar, Tyger Tyger, Northern Gravy, The Toy, and Little Thoughts Press.
