baltimoreblackwoman

As the comfort of Winter Darkness wanes
and a hint of Spring expands the Light of Day,
my nights transmute into
Vampire Hours.

I cannot sleep.
My mind seeks
the blood of dreams awakened—
plans for tomorrow,
regrets of yesterday,
a million hopes,
a thousand fears
converging like bats
seeking their cave.

I try to swat them away.

Too late to read,
I reason.
No music can soothe this beast,
I argue.

The mid-night silence only
magnifies the dread.

The ticking of the living room clock,
the drone of the basement furnace
insist
it’s time to rest.

In another hour,
just before dawn,
Sleep will overtake me.

Afternoon will wake me.