Friend or Foe?

Sleep, sleep

Are you a friend or foe?

As a sit at my laptop to write Vocal stories

Why do you steal on me?

With my fingers on the keyboard

I find myself typing ……….mmmm….

And other gibberish

Because I’ve dozed off.

Are you friend or foe?

****

In the evening I sit comfortably

To watch my favorite show

Or the day’s news.

Why do you steal on me?

I wake up wondering where I am

And who’s that talking on and on.

I miss the story

While you smile smugly.

Are you friend or foe?

****

In church I settle down to listen

To an interesting (I hope) sermon.

There you are, you steal on me

I wake up when my neighbor is ordered

“Turn to your neighbor and ask them…”

Sleep, you embarrass me

Remember when I woke up with a start in church

And stood up thinking it was hymn time?

I bent my head as if in prayer

Then slowly sat down.

And yet you were not moved.

Are you friend or foe?

****

Then there was the day I nodded off

Right opposite my boss at a staff meeting

Surely, sleep,

You wanted me fired?

Are you my friend or foe?

****

And why don’t you come on openly

And state your intentions?

You come in like a thief

You like stealing into my time

****

What are your real intentions?

When I give in to your prodding and get into bed

Why do you take off for an hour

Sometimes more

As I count sheep, turning and tossing, looking for you?

Sleep, sleep, are you my friend or my foe?

****

And when I finally find you

Why do you take a break some time in the night

Only to come back at 5:30 a.m.

Knowing full well I have to wake up at 6:00 a.m.?

Sleep, sleep, are you a friend or foe?

Thank you for reading!

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You can find more of my poems, stories, and articles at https://vocal.media/authors/wanjiru-ciira