You toss and turn, eyes shut tight,
but sleep won’t come,
it’s as elusive as the big lottery win
that you would dream off,
if you could ever get to sleep.
As you try and switch off your mind,
you remember that embarrassing incident
in that burger joint years ago,
when you shook the ketchup bottle
and the lid flew off,
red sauce splattering everywhere,
the chaos was like a
scene from a horror film.
You recall that that you need to apply
for your new passport by the end of the month,
and that the dog is at the vets next week,
and did you lock the car?
Yes, of course you did.
Stop it, relax, go to sleep.
What about the back door?
You didn’t even have the back door open
this evening. Of course it’s locked.
Ah, so it’s the front door that you’ve left unlocked.
Anyone could just walk in.
And what is that noise?
Swearing and grumbling in the darkness,
you flop the pillow over,
savouring the cool side,
trying to get as comfortable as you can,
slowing your breathing.
Finally, you hear sleep whisper in your ear,
feel her breath on your cheek,
and then you’re away….
You sit up suddenly seconds later
as the morning alarm goes off
like a police car siren.