placement of the lamp
on motel room dresser
is bolted down too

Time ticks even when I grab its hands
nasty thing, even when I take out the battery
the moon shiftless shift ticks me off through
hours. Sleep seems to have the sweet black
and cream left on the bottom of the hot cocoa
mug rim like cartoon eyes defying every normal
logic that commands sleep. limbs stutter
into the furred ribs of cat, fingers slosh off key
homerow mislaid, head is heavier than late
yesterday yet my mind chickadee flits
from the cold of a bed alone, larger than
the Atlantic and easier to drown in, being closer.

day’s little death in the east
hidden behind
sleet-snow curtains

day little death in the east
hidden behind
sleet-snow curtains

M-mm, steaming water
tea-stained cup
before the bag dunk
scented as if steeped
better one on rack?