RESTING SEPARATELY Poem by K. Schippers

My leg has fallen asleep in the hotel
like it's on pins and needles
an elbow asleep
floating
while you keep on talking

an eyebrow asleep
an ankle asleep
a cheek asleep

resting separately
the body as a whole
fatigue per hand or foot

a wrist falls asleep
then my hips
my chin is snoozing
a little finger drops
off even sooner

and resting there
in a booked-up hotel
the nail beside
the birthmark

the ankle next to
clotted blood
- the stirring heart
is covered by
what has to
sleep apart