No Sleep

No Sleep I grit my teeth Rape a smile barbells on my feet. You think I cry I’ll tell you no lies The bags are from lack of sleep. The baby cries Sirens in the streets A man angered and in heat As he packs his gat A mental kiss he leaves for me. He’s in the street And here I am with a kid who won’t sleep. Does he hear shells drop non-stop? Lights ablaze all night. Maybe my boy child was scared. Me too. Shut your mouth ghost. Aborted two months ago. I still hear his cries. **** I need a drink Over they’re on top the sink. A jelly jar of Brandy Maybe now I’ll sleep. Outside parks a jeep. Jumping out they blast their heat. Now I’ll sleep. Text going off. 44 the code. Flush the **** I do the deed, with lack of care. I’ll never get no sleep. They bust in my mental lust Yelling shouting Nothing is what I say. While they search They find nothing Get off me and leave my 3rd floor Patrol the danger out there. So I can sleep. The danger in my mind uncontrollable. Hurry and get back Where the **** he at? Keys in door steps in hall Too small for walls Yelling. I won’t move Don’t feel like it Come to me He kicks the bedroom door Sex and fist me. Fall against the dresser Back hurts, no visible tears. Gripping my throat, pulling me up Yes give me sleep. He starts to falter Crying he drops me not today, no sleep. Excerpt from Hood Child