Treadmill Poem by Makarand Paranjape

I thought that in sleep
All quarrels ceased,
And our minds surrendered
To the needs of fatigued bodies.
So, legs intertwined,
We huddled against the chill.
In an infantile dream,
I saw you stealing my blanket,
Meanly exposing me to the draft.
To punish you
I elbowed into your side savagely.
Still asleep,
You moaned in pain,
And called for your mother.
Startled, I awoke:
There is no respite from ourselves,
I perceived with dismay-
We carry our flawed selves into our sleep.


[From The Serene Flame]