
One day last year I was in a bad mood, and reading Charles Bukowski’s poems. Both factors combined like baking soda and vinegar, producing this high-school science fair-like mental gurgitation. I’m reposting it now because I’m awake, this one being the third night in a row I wake up right after the middle of the night for no apparent reason. Somebody get me some Hibernol.
Sleep
because I said so
and I’m much taller, and I get to tell you what to do
Sleep
because you are tired
but not as tired as I am of all the noise
the repetitive words
Sleep
close your eyes and make your chest
move up and down like the smallest tide
I’ll be listening until your breathing tells me the truth
the nose can’t lie the way the mouth does
Snore
because you do
even if you said you didn’t
how could you know, if you are asleep when you snore
Snore if you must
the sound is so small
only bats can hear it
and small kittens and special hearing dogs
No? There are no hearing dogs?
only seeing dogs, alright
I forgot
because I’m tired, and I forget things when I’m tired
Sleep
I’m tired of your excuses
go to your room and be quiet
climb up into bed if you can
that’s why I put that rope ladder there
I have things to do
important, giant things to do
things your mind doesn’t understand
because it’s so very tiny
Alright, no more mean teasing
but I’m tired, and grouchy when I’m tired
you should know that by now
go or I’ll hide the remote again
Put your house on the shelf again
make you date Barbie again
pull out my little black book again
look up and away at a distant point again
Sleep
and be grateful
I don’t know enough about roaches and whores and drinking
to make smoking guns out of them
Well, as a corollary, I really liked looking at this collage.
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Thank you trinket! And welcome back from your trip. I hope you got to go somewhere fabulous, and had fun and got some rest during your vacation time.
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Well it wasn’t fabulous but it was a good time. Just a trip back to my home for Thanksgiving (Canadian Thanksgiving). Got to see my folks, and see some high school buddies. It’s been a while since I was back.
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I’m glad it was a good time, and that you got to see your folks and old buddies. I love visiting my family, and I don’t get the chance to do that very often, so good on ya.
And a happy belated Canadian Thanksgiving to you too!
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