“Drowse” by Michal Mitchell
Lie awake, in the night,
Dream of sleep, in the light
Your eyes are sore
So’s your mind
So’s your feet
So’s your life
When you dream
Dream of sleep
What does that do?
What do they think?
Stay awake,
If you can
Dream of peace
Dream of sand
Dream a shore
Dream a beach
Where the weather
Is 211 degrees
Before boiling
That’s the point
Before swimming
Take a joint
Take a swim
Into the lake
Into the waves
Out past the hate
Take a dip
Take a dive
Flap your feet
Control your mind
Or carry it out
Unto the sea
Tell it what
It longs to be
And when the waves
Crash to the shore
They crash your brain
All what for?
You will remember
The very land
That you slept in
Toes in the sand
And when you sleep
— You never will
Or at least that’s how it seems
When you’re ill —
You will dream
Of your nightmare
Of your paradise
Hunt and kill
The beasts inside
Or take your shoes off
Offer a ride
Into the water
Into the sea
And remember
Who you dreamt you’d be.
“10 Minute Poetry” is my own weekly poet’s game; one in which I write an original piece of poetry, with nothing but a given title, in ten minutes.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter for more original poetry at @jackycoocoo