Sleep
At first, the sound is faint. Traveling through his single exposed ear, through the tympanic membrane, the vibrating sound then passes the malleus, incus, stapes and on to the cochlea, the auditory nerve and finally the brain. The miracle of hearing, even in the clutches of sleep.
purdy, purdy, purdy
wheet, wheet, wheet
and then a distinctive
qui-qui-qui-qui-qui-qui-qui
Punctuating the calls of the Northern cardinal and the White-breasted nuthatch are the intermittent taps of rain drops falling softly upon the window panes. They roll downward into puddles in the lawn making another distinct sound as wind rushes through the still leafless trees.
Turning slightly, he senses faint light through his still closed eyelids. Morning. Early morning. But his eyes remain closed as he resists the signals sent by the brain and flees from consciousness.
sleep, my elusive friend
never far but
never close
she’s a
fleeting glimpse
always slipping
thru fingers
grasping at the pillow
my mind begins
to race
to waken
i clutch her briefly
only to see her
flitter away again
evading me
leaving me
to toss
and
to turn
my eyes burn
my skull is
cracked and open
like an adultress
she gives me brief interludes
of pleasure
but abandons me
feeling empty
longing for more