Restless night of tossing and turning,
Pillow feels too warm, so flip it over.
The bed’s atmosphere tonight is too stiff
It gets me craving, a craving for slumber.
On mattress I lay with my wife and our dog,
Every sound I hear, every breath they take.
A symphony of stillness envelops,
Silence is not silent after all.
I want to get to sleep,
I need to get to sleep.
I want to get to sleep,
I need to get to sleep.
“No rest for the wicked” they say.
But I say the wicked are sleeping.
As dark dissolves into the early dawn,
No rest I get, no “Z” of sleep
Nor sheep I count, nor soul I lift,
Blessed slumber not,
I stare at the electronic clock before it’s buzz,
Still it surprises me, though I know it’s going to.
The morning is here, but not a new day for me,
I don’t leave the mature cradle yet.
I want to get to sleep,
I need to get to sleep.
I want to get to sleep,
I need to get to sleep.
“No rest for the wicked” they say.
But I say the wicked are sleeping.
The nearest star shines into my window,
Like a moth I follow the sun to ruin.
Outward and upward I leave my lair,
I didn’t doze but I sure ain’t awake.
Drive the car like a zombie, wonder how I got here
Sit down at my desk and pretend to work.
Colors of the screen start to fade
Blessed slumber…finally comes,
I want to get to sleep,
I need to get to sleep.
I want to get to sleep,
I need to get to sleep.
"No rest for the wicked" they say.
But I say the wicked are sleeping.
"No rest for the wicked" they say.
I know the wicked are sleeping.
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Reviews of "Sleep (Rest for the wicked)"
Reviewed by Annette Sheffer
Reviewed on March 21, 2002
Been there, done that! Love this poem. Thank you for putting this into words. :)
Reviewed by C. Gourlay (Reader)
Reviewed on February 27, 2002
'live while you're alive ~ sleep when you're dead' I say ~ and love this poem of yours and can relate (clearly).
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