Lying in bed eyes firmly closed

Deliberate relaxation in every limb

There will be sleep

The night wears on

Wind in the trees never sounded so loud

A bin falls over with a clatter

A dog barks

A lone car drives past

The house creaks

While thoughts are steadfastly repressed

That beg and plead for release

There will be sleep now

Sleep. Now

Birds start the dawn chatter

A glimmer of light peeks between the curtains

Frantic tears fall from reddened eyes

Squinting with horror at the new day

The need to work, function, pretend

Agonising to contemplate

When mind and body scream for oblivion

There must be sleep

When?