Matthew Holloway (10 June 1978 / Cheshire, England)

Old pipes creak and groan
almost as though a visitor is beyond the door
the lights of a passing car appear
against the blinds upon the window
holding almost for a second too long
tired the mind strays beyond all reason
into flights of fancy and mild fear
such thoughts linger, leave and return
warmth envelopes the body
making sweat run, damping hopes of sleep
beyond the duvet a cold chill waits
a duel between the two beckons
while the heart pounds against the chest
counting the unseen seconds
the mind alert making nonsense
footsteps, a cough, the wind
all noises play against reason
what lurks beyond the window
what awaits in the darkness of the street
what prevents this sleep
a thought created in tiredness
echoes late into the night