sleep does not come…
trying to quiet down voices….
shh…
restless soul…

old meditations…
prayers…
closing eyes and count to…1…2…3…
restless soul…

sounds from the gut…
breath…breath…breath…
flesh stirs…trembles…shakes…
restless soul…

calm…please be calm…
away with these thoughts…
a novel unfinished…
restless soul…

noises never stopping…
not of these streets…nor homeboys on corners…or…girls calling out in a silent way…
sirens screaming….no no no…
restless soul…

drink does not…
pills popped…
a full belly…
restless soul…

please let me slumber…
dream…
demons be done…
restless soul…

it’s that pitch-black voice…
death tones…
shhh…please…shh…please…
restless soul…