A Sleepless Night Poem by Annabel Cruz

When you sleep so soundly
I lie awake watching you
And I cannot remember
The night’s embraces
Soft and soothing
Like a boat floating
On gentle water
Kisses that are a shot
Of brandy, burning the stomach
But cooling the nerves
Your body melting into mine
Like two wax candles
Set too close, bathing
In each other’s juices, becoming
A single-celled animal.

I can only think of words
Those words
So cool and practical
They did not reach my heart
I felt them first
In my brain
Like a runaway bullet
The warm blood trickling down
Caressing my checks
Tickling my neck
But the blood flooded my brain
Till I was dead
Too dead to answer, or
Question.