Sheepish
Baa humbug, insomnia
I’ve tried kicking them out but they keep coming, leaping over the bedpost — waterfalls of coiled wool strobe lit white, black, gray, brown, red, even spotted
bleating concerns and catastrophes I keep under creatively corralled covers by day, noses nuzzling bedclothes into knots that rival those in my stomach,
grazing hope to scorched earth.
And the noise — my God, the noise. It’s deafening. I could use a good night’s sleep, you know
I say. Politely because I’m outnumbered. Who wants to be coated in cud or play dodgeball with hooves?
Baa humbug, sucker, those sucky sheep reply. Unrepentant scrooges hoarding ghosts from the past,
refusing all belief in dreams.
©Jenine Bsharah Baines 2021
J.D. Harms, you said to have fun with this prompt…and, while insomnia is a decidedly un-fun phenomena, I took you at your word.
The Muse balked last night as I scribbled in my notebook. But, at 3 a.m., she changed her mind and prodded me awake.
Counting sheep has been recommended forever. And who knew there are red/pink sheep? Or spotted ones?
Amazing, what you can learn at 4 a.m….
Thank you, J.D. and team at Scrittura for the prompt and home. Thank you, dearest readers. If you, too, suffer from insomnia, may this bring a smile to your sleep-deprived day.
