Dawnbreaker I & II

Dawnbreaker I

Milo has stopped badgering me about the ball

I've promised to buy him "Next week," week after week.

He's already in bed, asleep.

Nearing midnight, and again the cockroaches crash

against the cage of our prickly hedgehogs; crude tings

of a percussion triangle.

Past midnight, the brain strain, weary and watery eyes,

and runny nose gather saltwater in my mouth. 

Incipient sinusitis.

Reaching morn and laptop's still on, screen still shining 

bright, and the mouse gets comfy and watches with me.

Nocturnal creatures, we.

A little fear of dawn is stirred, fear of staying 

awake till it breaks, another vigil will pass. 

Enervating over nothing.

But I'm hooked; insomnia is now my drug of choice:

I just can't get enough dose of not enough sleep.

(Not even a small drop of doze.)

Dawnbreaker II

Milo has stopped badgering me about the ball

I've promised to buy him "Next week," week after week.

He's already in bed, asleep.

Nearing midnight, and again the cockroaches crash

against the cage of our prickly hedgehogs; crude tings

of a percussion triangle.

Past midnight, the brain strain, weary and watery eyes,

and runny nose gather saltwater in my mouth. 

Incipient sinusitis.

Reaching morn and laptop's still on, screen still shining 

bright, and the mouse gets comfy and watches with me.

Nocturnal creatures, we.

A little fear of dawn is stirred, fear of staying 

awake till it breaks, another vigil will pass. 

Enervating over nothing.

Now I surrender and lay beside my Milo
to sleep, recover my strength for another day:
No absence till the 30th.

Another grinding day at the factory line,
to work for food on the table, and save to buy
my little boy's first basketball.

*  *  *

Check out My Personal Anthology (12 Poems). 

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