Mechanisms

The night is the city, the
city is the siren sound that
fills the dimly-lit streets, those
lights too soft for seeing, too hard

for sleeping.

Wind escapes, howl, even
as these hands slam shut on
open windows, but cold settles
and wind escapes and heat, it rises,
forming rings and foggy screens.

I might sleep tonight, I might
try, I might try and sleep tonight,
I might forget to sleep, I might forget
to try, I might forget to try and sleep for
once tonight, I might know, I might know
I will not sleep tonight.

I have tried so hard to be mad,
but it always feels like the wrong suit,
and I cannot lift its weight, and I cannot
make it fit, and so I don the lighter cloak,
and wish away the day.