Exhaustion takes up the bed-
grips the sheets
with sleepless fingers
and blank dream strength.
She holds my body tight to her chest
and asks me to hold her close.
Exhaustion writes me love poems
in aching shoulders, slurring words,
and thumping headaches.
She recites them to me
as I try to sleep,
and I squirm under her steady stream of words.
Exhaustion reminds me of her loyalty,
and how she has been by my side
since my college years.
She pulls up selfies of all night
sketch fests and term paper deadlines.
Exhaustion whispers in my ear
that it isn’t time for me to go to sleep,
and she flicks a switch of memories.
She hold my attention in a whirlwind
of thoughts, memories, and ideas,
until she introduces me
to an insomnia sleepover.
Exhaustions takes up me-
grips me close
with sleepless fingers
and blank dream strength.
Poetic Trials 