Midnight Minded

In the vulnerable hours

Of the night,

I am frightened by much more

Than the dark,

There’s a certain curse

That falls upon you and me,

When the swelter of the sun

Descends behind the sky,

The moonless sky

Of my midnight mind

Extricates my repressed past

To the forefront of consciousness,

The anxieties and disorders,

Project a forecast

For tonight’s panicked nerves

Which during daylight hours

Are so easily concealed,

Which tonight,

Stand proud and pure.

My lungs deflate,

My blood grows acidic,

My muscles, taut,

My bones, arthritic,

I call to you

With no reply,

I wrack my brain

Still a starless sky,

I am prisoner

To my own raucous head

My frail, shaking skin,

My prickling bones

The sun rises

The alarm drones

The sun rises

After a scheduled sleep

With watering eyes

And baggage deep

I hear your voice

But talk is cheap

I think I’d rather

Be asleep.

2012