By Gala
Date: 1 December 2000
Waking Alone
Sleep took me against my will,
did not ask consent
please
or by my leave
and I woke today
when the alarm sounded
rose on automatic pilot
to do the dozen small mindless tasks
and it was a normal morning---
when normal did not feature
the calm sweet balm
of your voice
your kiss
your touch.
My words when I spoke
rang with the emptiness
of a huge tibetan bell
that took five priests to sound
and it was all because I slept
when my heart hungered
for the peace of you
and my body betrayed me.
And the morning broke
with the chilly damp promise
of wet snow,
the trees stopped looking like filigree lace,
and started to seem like a fleshless hand
reaching---
You will say it's all right---
that sleep was what I needed
and that you were just fine
and still I will mourn
for the lost hours
twist in anguish
that I was not there,
and hate myself
for not being where I belonged
When sleep took me hostage,
and dreams did not come,
and you waited for me
and wondered perhaps
if my word meant a damned thing.
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