I sleep in inches
startle awake
surely hours—
but no.
The second hand danced
a few degrees
around the circumference.

Check the time—no.
Don’t check the time.
How much time
until morning rise?

Sleep, damn sleep—
suspended
in no-sleep.
Hours left to dream
before wakeup time.
No dream.
Breathe,
breathe.
Just
breathe.

Stop thinking.

Ensnared
in the web of sleepless,
bouncing desperation
against the stickiness.
Please, mind,
quiet down.
Stop fighting the trap
of consciousness—
demanding itself.

Exhaustion,
but no rest.

Originally written: 1/17/26