john grey

how to sleep


Late, love fades
from the picture,
my weary heart
putters toward sleep,
usually someone is hugging me
who could be anyone
now my eyes are closed,
whose love I let wash over me,
as I mutter the blather she believes.

For best rest I’ve found,
suspend emotions,
vacate all feeling
while the lights are out.
A man can get by
without caring for another soul.
Trust in the nothingness
of deep night.

But it’s dawn and I’m yawning.
My body makes the mattress squeak.
Love expects something of me now
in exchange for loveless dreams
I swear I wasn’t disloyal.
I just set love aside.
But I kiss my wife on the cheek.
Anything to satisfy love.