Raj Arumugam (INDIA)

1
zzzzz.....zzzzz...shhh.....zzzzz.
shhh... .be quiet! .....zzzzz....
it’s the quiet of night
and everyone’s asleep...
so be quiet....zzzzzzzzzzz...

he-body is in bed
and see, beside is she-body
and both owners are fast asleep
but bodies speak even in sleep
shhh....be quiet! .....zzzzz....
zzzzz.....zzzzz...shhh.....zzzz z.


2
one turns in sleep
click! the neck says
ssssuuu!
a big toe scratches the mattress

silence

hmmm...mmmm...hmmm m...
that’s the in-breath, out-breath
as the bodies communicate

growl! it’s an empty tummy
and tchk! says the tongue
as it feels thirsty;
swwwwwirl!
says the blanket
as she-body pulls more of it

3

zzzzz.....zzzzz...shhh.....zzz zz.
shhh....be quiet! .....zzzzz....
it’s the quiet of night
and everyone’s asleep...
so be quiet....zzzzzzzzzzz...

rrrr....rrrrr..... rrrrrr...
that’s he-body snoring
rrrr...rrrr....rrrr...rrrrrrrr...
y es, he snores like a saw

ttttttttttt! yes, she-body kicks

bp! bp! bp! bp!
he-body sucks his thumb

zap!
a noise travels
from lung to gut
hmmmm....hmmmmmm....hmmmm...
there is heavy-breathing
the nose is blocked

4
zzzzz.....zzzzz...shhh.....zz zzz.
shhh....be quiet! .....zzzzz....
it’s the quiet of night
and everyone’s alseep...
and bodies talk....listen

prrrrtttt!
yes, that’s he-body
everybody knows this rude sound
Plattt!
yes, that’s she-body
with an instinctive kick
Baam!
that’s he-body
as it hits the floor

rrrrrr......rrrrrr....rrrrrr.....rrr rrr....
prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrtttttt!
that’s he-body again, I’m afraid,
blissfully unaware
and asleep like a baby on the floor

Hmmmmm.....
that’s she-body dreaming of Prince Charming
who never showed up

zzzzz.....zzzzz...shhh.....zzzzz.
sh hh....be quiet! .....zzzzz....
it’s the quiet of night
and everyone’s asleep...
so be quiet....zzzzzzzzzzz...