nightlight

It's harder to sleep at night knowingI'll miss the stars and record playersSpinning in their galaxies,These orbits outside my window.Miles above the radiation-Light years away from memories ofhands and tears nestling into my fingertips.My shoulders closing in like book covers,letting my heart be burrowed in myword soaked ribs.I curb loneliness with pages.His spine is gone and yet five spineshave settled in my bed,peaking at me under pillowcases,laughing below my calveand lounging beside me in my sheets.The stars have the black matter tonestle inside of but I havemy serpentine spines.The night wears on and yet sleepremains a shadow dancing on my wall.Pages flutter with the breeze sneakingin through the open window andrattling the cages the characters share,begging for stories to be told.Go to sleep, I whisper, trying toevaporate into the stars as theybeat against my brain and secondshoist their hands on toward daylight.Another morning coming much too soon.But I'd rather be tired and inspired,heart on fire, fingertips wired to the keys,than retired from the desire to createand let these people breathe.

via *