Sleep Like Rivers

Sleep assaults me

at every turn,

and I fight to stay awake.

Sleeep comes in torrents

of soft, warm water,

with the gentle gurgling

of infants

surrounding me with

tranquil eddies

of tenderness.

Sleeeep comes in droplets,

pelting me like a

wind-driven

sideways rain.

Sleeeeep sluices

down from the stars

into my room,

a cozy closeness

of presence

that sings in the voices

of those

who’ve gone before me.

Sleep like rivers,

like bones,

like dreams

of sleep…

I lose the sweet fight.

Goodnight.