sleep |slēp|, verb:

to lay terrified, fearful of what may come

to stare, 4 AM, gulping down night

begging slow breath and mind to

calm down slow down,

drift into the open darkness

weight

toppling over into tomorrow

to fall through bedding and become dark

to curl inward into yourself

to walk among dreams made out of clouds

and cuddle warmth and cradle head in hand

safely bedded down.

to feel everything dissipate; release

to journey through the body's whispered secrets

finding the memories of trees and the color of the mountains

or the skin of another body desired

then to emerge as if from strangling water,

gasping for air, yet startlingly refreshed

the body gaping in yawn and stretching toward light

curled delicately, then harshly as they rise

extended and cotton mouthed

joints cracking greetings to the dawn

and rubbing their brows

waking