The Sleep Thief

J. Trig Brown, MD, MPH

Winter 1999 - Volume 3 Number 1

And so what if you're tired to the bone

up all night

robbed of rest

away from home

thief phone steals large bills

of sleep you might have had

tiny bandit beeper rifles through loose change

and so what if you drag through the next morning clinic

farther and farther and farther behind

the gold ring

snatched out of your grasp

dreams for easy morning dashed

ambushed in clinic fog

and so what if you nearly fall asleep

on your way home

the highway's quiet you're finally alone

dry scratchy eyes beg to close

car wanders to and fro

driving while you nap

and so what if you nod off after dinner

feel cramped grumpy mugged

nodding snoring twisting tightly

when the alarm explodes at 5:00 the next morning

holding you up to do it again?