beware all the pretty colors
whirling in a cautious dance
the canvas a torn and dingy paper
pinned on the wall
my brush defies limits
glides onto the cracked wall
a glistening roach scampers across my bare toes
dodging a drip of blue
i reach out to kill the light
a dangling naked bulb
the colors now heard
not a decision, but rather gravity
drip drip deafening
exhale
i pulled the cord
i broke the circuit
sleep kidnaps my consciousness
the colors slide down the paper
the roach reads Shakespeare
I die a sweet dream
once upon a time

can't make myself write
block

tumbling out of bed
taking leave from sleep-thoughts of failure
gag the screaming appliance that crams me into a schedule
vulgar light penetrates defensively squinting lids