insomnia.
hush grown child, sleep is a minnow –
hard to catch.
sometimes she’ll swim by your bed, only just
out of reach
ears scalded, buzz within the demons of yestermorrow
insomnia
eyes, cracked wide, assessing the
all-night crew:
between ships playing leapfrog and
trying to avoid the handsome juggler
repetition never failing as an art
– nose, stomach, headache almighty, hayfever, anxiety
overly aware –
Fido undrunk in a chorus of “shut up.” “Hello?”
whir whum machines and boom bang elephants
well, what color do you want to make them?
PRETEND YOU HAVE TO GET UP IN AN HOUR.
pay the mortgage on the roses
slip
slop
slide into sleep
(ships playing leapfrog?)
rather weak.
and sloth dance and whales fly
and camels sing you a lullaby
no, darling-child, was not I
just tea-perfume and smiles...
goodbye.