Early To Bed Poem by Adaobi Chiemelu

Early to bed

I'm seeking sleep eagerly
Cause I want to have my color when I wake up in the morning
There is a mirror facing me while I sleep
I'll like to see the color on my lips when next I look

Sleep rids me of that last sip of goodness from the bottom of palmwine
The tasty cakes that without them would leave as water the wine
Sleep rids me of the taste of my very self as though punishment for not yielding to its lure at swift first
Now my eyes hurt and tear as a reminder of taking watery wine

And I long for sleep eagerly
Cause I want my color back
When I wake up in the morning there'll be a mirror waiting to address me
I should try not to disappoint myself or the mirrors of my eyes