SLEEP

Darryl Peters

Pastel over pastel,

Twilight stains the skyline

and I’m waiting for you.

Did the Sun steal away

with you? Your hands entwined

running to tomorrow?

Used ashtray, cracked glass skies:

sing nocturnes, harsh Midnight,

through pillows pressed to ears.

The moon’s expressionless.

His face betrays nothing

of where you’ve spent the night.

Behind light pollution,

faerie-fires of starlight

cannot guide you homeward.

Pace this jail-cell brain, blood;

Bee’s wings beat this mad heart

That’s vibrating these sheets

Dawn sky’s a cut citrus,

Arranged in a bowl when

You show up, too late now.

We plan for tomorrow,

Meaningless promises

Over morning coffee.