I Must Sleep

I must sleep I must sleep I must sleep Midnight comes and the night is still Seconds tick by like water through a mill I breathe in deeply and focus on the chasm Wishing for slumber with increasing enthusiasm Darkness close and warm, with tantalizing draw Pulling me to sleep just to snatch me from its maw I must sleep I must sleep I must sleep 2am comes; my eyes are dry and sore I listen to the darkness speak in whispers that implore That plead, and tease, and ask me to fall Deep into the blackness that continues to call I count the seconds like sheep passing over My exhausted mind wishing that sleep would take over I must sleep I must sleep I must sleep Half past three, I'll have to wake soon My thoughts won't rest, swirling like a typhoon I think of tomorrow, knowing that surely If I don't sleep now I'll do very poorly I stare at the ceiling, mocking and heartless As it stares back at me, scorning sleeps progress I must sleep I must sleep I must sleep It's five in the morning and dawn creeps in, Through the thin slatted blinds, light patterns my skin I wait for the morning to herald its arrival Knowing that it brings weariness, not revival Only thirty more minutes 'til the alarm clock hums I feel myself drift, as sleep finally comes