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The September 2007 poetry project consists of writing one poem per day in the month of September and putting it up for public consumption regardless of its state of completion.

 

Poem 16. I can’t sleep he says

and I don't remember my dreams either.

What was the last one?

He runs his finger around the rim of his glass.

I dreamed I couldn't sleep and I was watching late night television.

The sign behind him is for a band that played last week.

It was as real as this. This could be a dream, he says.

He stops the waitress with the Japanese Print tattoo on her shoulder.

He orders a beer and asks me if I want one.

No, I say. I'm living the alternative lifestyle.

Don't take that stuff so seriously, he says. You're airy enough. 

I want to live well, even in this moment.

Hours pass. I am drifting.

Sleep with me, he says.

He doesn't like to sleep alone.

Sleep with me, he says again.

While he sleeps, I look out his window in the windws of the house opposite.

There are no stars.

He kicks in his sleep and I give him my hand to hold until he stops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

©Rachel Levine 2007