Stolen Sleep Poem by Joanne Togati

THE THIEF OF MY EYES WIDE OPEN



A FORCE THAT SPEAKS SOFTLY,

DEFTLY AND KNOWS WHEN MY GRATITUDE

IS AT BAY.



HE ROLLS THE FIELDS IN THUNDER

LIPS THAT PULL ME IN WITH THE OTHERS

THEIR BODIES HUNGRY CURVING IN CRIES

SCREAMING ALL TOGETHER

OUR BONES UNTIED


SHIELDED ONLY SLIGHTLY

BY THE CLEAN MIRROR

OF A OUNCE DELIVERED INNOCENT MIND



NOW PLUNDERED AND FATIGUED

LIMBS COLLAPSED BY SLEEP



LIKE A ROSEBED MOWED UNDER

SUNKEN ROOTS OF THE BLOOD TREE



A COLD BLANCHED EARTH

AND THEN PULSE SLOWS



TO THE COLD ROCK

MOTION



OF A CHEMICAL UNIVERSE



YET THE TRICKSTER PLAYS ON



AND WE MUST SLEEP FOR AT LEAST A THOUSAND YEARS

BEFORE ONE OUNCE OF OUR MIND

CAN SEE ITS OMNISCIENCE

YET OUR ENEMY KNOWS THIS TOO